FOXBORO, Mass. — Day 3 of New England Patriots training camp began with a contract extension and ended with calls for another.
Roughly two hours after safety Jabrill Peppers signed a three-year extension, nose tackle Davon Godchaux opened up on his desires for a new deal.
It was a repeat of Wednesday when Matthew Judon held court on his contract drama in a wildly honest news conference.
Let’s get into everything Godchaux said after Friday’s practice, along with some analysis.
What Did Davon Godchaux Say About His Contract Drama?
Godchaux, set to hit free agency next spring, is due $7.15 million this season, but none of it is guaranteed. He also will count $11.8 million against the salary cap.
The 29-year-old recently used the X platform to vent about his contract situation but went into greater detail Friday afternoon.
“I just want some respect,” said Godchaux, who was a full participant in Wednesday and Friday’s practices but sat out Thursday due to an undisclosed injury.
“It’s frustrating playing out here with no guaranteed money, but I’m going to put it in [agent Drew Rosenhaus’] hands,” Godchaux said. “He’s going to do his best with it.”
Davon Godchaux opens up about contract negotiations at training camp pic.twitter.com/DJHv7tLQAk
— NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSBoston) July 26, 2024
Godchaux also said he’s a great fit in the Patriots’ scheme and could see himself enjoying a long career in New England. He also said he’d love to retire with the Patriots.
“I would love to be here,” he said. “But at the end of the day, it’s a business.”
Godchax added: “Hopefully, we can get a deal done.”
What Kind of Contract Extension Does Godchaux Want?
When asked what kind of deal he’s looking for, Godchaux cited Dalvin Tomlinson (Cleveland Browns) and Grover Stewart (Indianapolis Colts), two other run-stuffing D-tackles who see heavy workloads.
Stewart re-signed with the Colts in March for $39 million over three years with $17.99 million guaranteed. Tomlinson signed with Cleveland last year for $57 million over four years with $27.5 million guaranteed.
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Godchaux noted he and Stewart both don’t play much on third downs, which is true. Per Andrew Callahan of the Boston Herald, Godchaux pass-rushed 22 times on third down last year, compared to 27 times for Stewart. However, Tomlinson logged 121 pass rushes on third downs, so Godchaux’s comparisons weren’t perfect.
There’s also this note from Pro Football Network’s Dallas Robinson:
Decent comparisons, but Godchaux isn't quite as good of a run defender as Stewart or as nearly a productive a pass rusher as Tomlinson.
From 2021 to 2023 (data via TruMedia and PFF):
Pressures:
• Tomlinson: 86
• Stewart: 54
• Godchaux: 44Stops ("failure" for the offense):… https://t.co/5fxUxsYh7L
— Dallas Robinson (@DallasDRobinson) July 26, 2024
Godchaux received a two-year, $20.8 million extension from the Patriots in 2022, and he surely wants more this time around.
So, what should the Patriots do?
PFN Analysis: Patriots Should Pay Godchaux, but They Don’t Have To
Godchaux’s been a solid, dependable player since arriving in New England in 2021.
He’s been active for every game and started in all but one while racking up, 182 tackles, 2.5 sacks, nine quarterback hits, and one forced fumble. He’s also emerged as a vocal leader in the locker room and a physical tone-setter on defense.
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Godchaux also is the only true nose tackle on New England’s roster — and he knows it. The Patriots would be in trouble if he suffered an injury or held out. Plus, $11.8 million is too big of a cap charge for a player like Godchaux, so it would behoove the Patriots to lower it.
That said, it’s not as if Godchaux is a Pro Bowler, and the Patriots could net $8.3 million in cap savings by cutting or trading him before the season. Furthermore, Godchaux is under contract, and the Patriots don’t have to do anything.
As for a trade, there isn’t really a big market for disgruntled interior D-tackles wanting raises. Godchaux could request a trade, but we’re not sure there would be many takers. He’s kind of stuck.
With all that said, if the Patriots don’t want to give Godchaux a long-term extension, they still could satisfy him by tweaking his contract while lowering his cap number. We’ll just have to wait and see whether the two sides can reach an agreement.