We no longer have to make any guesses about Davon Godchaux’s rumored contract dispute with the New England Patriots. In yet another sign that we’re living in a post-Bill Belichick world, the veteran nose tackle went public with his desire for a new deal.
Davon Godchaux Opens Up on Patriots Contract Dispute
Godchaux, 30, attended mandatory minicamp but didn’t participate in team drills despite appearing healthy. Before the Patriots’ final minicamp practice, head coach Jerod Mayo confirmed speculation about Godchaux “holding in” ahead of a contract season.
“Look, we want him here,” Mayo said. “He’s one of our best players. He’s working. I will say that. He is working. He’s here every single day, has been here every single day. We look forward to getting him on the field in camp.”
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Mayo then was asked whether Godchaux’s hold-in was similar to what we saw last year from Matthew Judon, who attended minicamp but didn’t participate amid a contract dispute.
“I wouldn’t put it in those words,” Mayo said “But there are guys that, obviously, they want to redo contracts and stuff like that. And not just [Godchaux]; it’s a bunch of guys that want to do those things, and we’re working through it. Eliot [Wolf] and his staff, they do a great job as far as handling that. I don’t get into the player contracts.”
Mayo then offered this: “One thing I’ve learned is sometimes the value that the team has on a person is a little bit different than the value that the market has on a person. So, those are just things I’m learning.”
Godchaux didn’t speak to reporters after any offseason practices, but he broke his silence Monday night while responding to a post from a fan on the X platform (formerly Twitter).
“Hopefully we can get something done that’s fair to me and my team before camp starts!” Godchaux wrote. “I love NE, I would love to retire here but it has to make sense for us! What I do on the football field in the trenches most of time doesn’t show on the stat sheet but turn on the film you will see it if ‘U know’ ball! Would love to finish my career here in NE but it has to make sense to me and my team!”
Hopefully we can get something done that’s fair to me and my team before camp starts! I love NE, I would love to retire here but it’s has to make sense for us! What I do on the football field in the trenches most of time doesn’t show on the stat sheet but turn on the film you… https://t.co/PPH8Fvb4Ku
— Davon Godchaux (@ChauxDown) June 25, 2024
Patriots fans shouldn’t ignore this storyline. According to Boston Sports Journal’s Greg Bedard, both Godchaux and star edge rusher Judon — who recently promised not to cause any contract drama — aren’t satisfied with their current deals.
“He went on (the radio) and basically said he wasn’t gonna do what he did last year,” Bedard said of Judon during the latest episode of his Patriots podcast. “I have reason to believe that will not be true. I will say there are rumblings that there are a couple of big contract issues with the Patriots — and they stem from Christian Barmore’s deal.”
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Bedard was referring to the four-year, $92 million deal New England gave Barmore in April.
The Patriots will hold their first training camp practice on Wednesday, July 24, so they have time to work things out with Godchaux. Whether the two sides can find a reasonable middle ground remains to be seen.
What Are Godchaux’s Contract Details?
Godchaux, whom Belichick once described as one of the “best” defensive linemen in the NFL, is entering the final year of an extension he signed two years ago.
The 30-year-old is due $7.15 million in 2024, but none of it is guaranteed. He also will count $11.8 million against the salary cap.
The Patriots could cut or trade Godchaux this summer for a net cap savings of $8.3 million.
Why Patriots Should Tweak Godchaux’s Contract
Is Godchaux an elite defensive tackle? No. But he’s a rock-solid interior linemen and a respected leader in the locker room. Moreover, he’s the only true nose tackle on a defense that prioritizes stopping the run. New England has other options in Barmore, Armon Watts, and Jeremiah Pharms, but Godchaux is the best run-stuffer of the bunch.
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Godchaux, who’s started all but one game since joining the Patriots in 2021, also is tough and durable. Removing him from the roster could invite inconsistency for a rebuilding team with little margin for error.
Ultimately, the best course of action would be for New England to rework Godchaux’s contract to lower his 2024 cap number while satisfying his salary desires. The Patriots shouldn’t overpay for someone like Godchaux but should find a way to get a deal done before training camp.
