Shall we talk about Chris Godwin?
The most exciting part of the Buccaneers offseason is over – pre-draft scouting, free agency, the NFL Draft, OTAs, minicamp – which means it’s time to settle in for what feels like the longest wait until training camp begins in late July.
The intense NFL offseason is dominated by storylines leading up to the upcoming season, with media and fans alike spending June and July discussing various rankings and the big storylines that are sure to emerge once the season begins in September.
With that in mind, the idea here is to zero in on the Buccaneers’ biggest stars and dive into the bigger storylines heading into the 2024 season, player by player. Quarterback Baker Mayfield and Wide receiver Mike Evans, Today we’ll be talking about legendary Tampa Bay wide receiver Mike Evans.
Buccaneers Story: Chris Godwin
Here are the three biggest storylines surrounding Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin in 2024.
Will 2024 be Chris Godwin’s final year with the Buccaneers?
Buccaneers WR Chris Godwin – Photo: Cliff Welch/PR
Heading into 2024, there’s no bigger conversation surrounding Godwin than his contract situation and his future with Tampa Bay. Believe it or not, he’ll be entering his eighth year in the league and, of course, he’s been a Buccaneers stud his entire career so far.
But this is the final year of the three-year contract he signed after the 2021 season, and given the team is committed to paying No. 1 receiver Mike Evans’ salary (which they did this offseason), it’s fair to wonder whether Godwin will get another contract extension from Jason Licht and company next spring. Can the Bucs afford to pay two receivers more than $20 million next year??
The team may not know the answer yet. Evans will be 32 and Godwin 29 in the 2025 season. These two receivers are the best in Buccaneers history, that’s undeniable. But would the team consider revamping the receiver position after two of the team’s legends have led the team for so long? It all ultimately depends on what Godwin does this season. He may prove his worth and make it impossible for Buccaneers executives to let him go. Of course, the opposite could also happen, and a down year might make it easier for the team’s decision makers to look to the future without the 2017 third-round pick.
That’s why it’s noteworthy that the Buccaneers are letting Godwin play out the 2024 season as the final year of his contract. Tampa Bay did the same with Evans last year, and Evans had one of the best seasons of his career and was selected to the Pro Bowl again. Could Godwin follow suit and put together a big year (e.g., another 1,000-yard season and more touchdowns — more on that later) and sign a new contract with Tampa Bay? What’s certain is that Godwin remains the consummate professional he has always been and a great captain and leader for the team. The future will take care of itself.
What will happen with Chris Godwin moving back to the slot?
Buccaneers WR Chris Godwin – Photo: Cliff Welch/PR
When Bruce Arians took over as head coach of the Buccaneers in 2019, Godwin kicked inside and played most of his snaps from the slot, a role similar to that of the legendary Larry Fitzgerald, who played under Arians at Arizona. The move immediately led to the best season of Godwin’s career, catching 86 passes for a career-high 1,333 yards and nine touchdowns, also career highs.
It was the 2017 third-round draft pick’s only Pro Bowl season with Tampa Bay, but he continued to benefit from a slot role in 2020 (840 yards, seven touchdowns) and 2021 (1,103 yards, five touchdowns). Then in 2022, Godwin had another 1,000-yard season despite tearing his ACL/MCL in December 2021, though his touchdown totals dropped to three.
Then, when Dave Canales replaced Byron Leftwich as the Buccaneers’ offensive coordinator in 2023, he deployed Godwin primarily on the outside. Still, Godwin rushed for three straight 1,000-yard seasons but only two touchdowns and was never the driving force behind the offense like he was under Arians/Leftwich.
Chris Godwin Alignment Analysis: Slot Snap vs. Wide Snap
2017: 87 slots, 340 wide
2018: 215 slots, 476 wide
2019: 518 slots, 349 wide
2020: Slot 519, Wide 357
2021: 509 slots, 303 wide
2022: 628 slots, 311 wide
2023: 335 slots, 655 wide
With Canales now the head coach at Carolina, Liam Cohen has become Tampa Bay’s new playcaller. With new receivers coach Brian McClendon.the plan is to play Godwin in the slot for an increased number of snaps. So what will that look like for the eighth-year receiver and what will the alignment splits look like? McClendon spoke about Godwin’s versatility. Earlier in the offseason, Cohen and McClendon praised him for his ability to do whatever the team asked of him, and the addition of another versatile receiver in rookie Jaylen McMillan gives Cohen and McClendon options.
But considering the No. 14’s best football has come from the slot, playing him inside more often in 2024 could reap greater rewards, which would be huge for both the offense and Godwin himself, who is in the final year of his contract.
Can Chris Godwin add to his touchdown tally and extend his 1,000-yard season streak?
Buccaneers wide receivers Chris Godwin and Mike Evans – Photo: Cliff Welch/PR
Godwin recorded his third straight 1,000-yard season last season despite playing in what was perceived to be a marginal role in Dave Canales’ offense. This was the fourth 1,000-yard season of his career, and while his third straight season may seem small compared to Mike Evans’ 10-year streak, the fact that he surpassed the 1,000-yard mark while still being the No. 2 (or No. 1A) rushing lineman behind Evans is impressive in and of itself.
But while it will be interesting to see Godwin try to extend his four-year streak, what he really needs to improve on in 2024 is his touchdown numbers.
Godwin has 21 total touchdowns from 2019-2021, but just five over the past two seasons combined. He is tied with Jimmy Giles for the second-most receiving touchdowns in franchise history (34), but he hasn’t been able to get to the end zone consistently enough the past two seasons. Maybe a move back to the slot will bring out the best in him and allow him to get to the end zone like he did in his prime under head coach Bruce Arians. The Buccaneers are certainly hoping that happens, as the offense has relied on Evans as its sole touchdown generator the past few years.
Evans has only six touchdowns in 2022, while Godwin has only three, not even second on the team. Godwin has five, trailing Russell Gage in second. And in 2023, Evans has 13 receiving scores, while Godwin has two. That’s fewer than tight end Cade Otton (four), running back Rachel White (three) and rookie receiver Trey Palmer (three). If Tampa Bay wants to take the next step offensively in 2024, they need Godwin to step up another level and become the team’s second-leading touchdown scorer at 5-foot-7.
And at the risk of hitting the contract-year aspect of this for the third time, throwing more touchdowns in 2024 will only do Godwin a favor next offseason. Whether he looks to re-sign with the Buccaneers or move on, 1,000-plus yards and six or seven touchdowns is sure to get him a bigger contract than 1,000-plus yards and two or three scores. As simple as that sounds, it’s a good bet.
