Godwin About To Blow Up
May 29th, 2018
Big prediction.
For some, it isn’t enough that Bucs offensive coaches rave about this guy’s skillset and work ethic. And it isn’t enough that one of the top receivers in the game and best receiver in Bucs history, Mike Evans, speaks so highly of him.
No, no. Not until the PFF tribe gives its stamp of approval will some believe in Chris Godwin.
Well, start believing. Typing for the spreadsheeters, Austin Gayle believes Godwin is one of the top second-year players that will rise to elite status this fall.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ third-round pick Chris Godwin had little opportunity to push for reps ahead of veteran wide receivers Mike Evans and DeSean Jackson in 2017, leading to a limited role for the former Penn State product for most of his rookie season. However, when opportunity struck, Godwin took full advantage.
Though he played in just 41.0 percent (446/1,088) of the team’s offensive snaps, Godwin proved efficient with his route running, as he ranked 13th in yards per route run (2.03) among wide receivers with at least 41 targets in 2017. Godwin also earned an 82.0-plus overall game grade in three of the four contests in which he logged at least 40 offensive snaps in last season, and his lone down performance only rendered a 73.0 overall grade.
Godwin will still have his work laid out for him in terms of earning play time with both Evans and Jackson expected to reclaim starting roles in 2018, but he’ll still garner some targets in a reserve role and even more so if he can hone his skillset in the slot and take snaps away from veteran Adam Humphries. As Tampa Bay’s primary slot receiver in 2017, Humphries earned a career-low 67.8 overall grade.
Back when DeSean Jackson first signed with the Bucs, a three-year contract of which two years was guaranteed, internationally-popular JoeBucsFan.com columnist Ira Kaufman predicted Jackson would not see the final year in Tampa.
If Godwin does indeed blow up, and with the Bucs needing to start counting nickels to pay America’s Quarterback, Pro Bowler Jameis Winston, along with Kwon Alexander, Donovan Smith and Ali Marpet, would that make Ira’s prediction come true?
May 29th, 2018 at 8:11 am
I believe “blow up” isn’t a term we want to use in today’s world, whatever happened to “break-out season?”…….too many things getting “blown up” around the world.
May 29th, 2018 at 8:11 am
I was so impressed with this kid last year. He seems to be an incredibly hard worker who is quite gifted…… and he seems wise beyond his years.
He is going to be a great Buc for a long time.
May 29th, 2018 at 8:17 am
I like Deshawn Jackson but…..I would like to get something for him. If a contender loses a #1 or 2 WR in training camp….I’m shipping Jackson off for a 2019 3rd rounder….
I hate the thought of doing that because if Evans goes down we would need him…but I’d like the draft pick.
Some may think we could get a 2….but I’m not greedy…will take a 3.
May 29th, 2018 at 8:23 am
Hey injuries happen and it’s never a bad thing to have depth.
One thing is for sure we do have tight ends and wide outs wow
Wish we could say the same thing about our offensive line and running backs
May 29th, 2018 at 8:37 am
We’d be lucky to get a 6th rd pick for DJax in trade. He’s still got his speed – but had a down stat year in 2017 and turns 32 this season. Plus he’s due $11M in 2018 and $10M next year under his current contract.
Similar to the Talib situation this off-season – no team is likely to be desperate enough to want to overpay for even a good #2 WR like Jackson due to his age, price and previous downstat year – much less trade valuable draft picks for that “privilege” when everybody knows he will be cut at the conclusion of of this season and be available on the open market next offseason for likely half the cost of his current contract.
May 29th, 2018 at 8:53 am
Pickgrin
We can disagree this time as we rarely do….but I think Djax down year was an aberration…..note that he only dropped one pass…..yes he is older but he is fit and still has speed…..note, I said “contender”……not just any team….those teams want to win now. He also has two years on his contract so the team would have two full years of his services…..He may not get a 3rd but he is worth more than a 6th IMO.
May 29th, 2018 at 9:22 am
Yikes Joe
You’ve already offended someone. This site needs to do a better job of not ostracizing so much of the population.
The world will finally become a better place when basketball announcers stop using the word “shoot or shot” and start saying “discharge”(Michael Jordan discharged the basketball from 25′ away) or when people stop using the word man.
Future articles that use any of below words should be changed to the following:
mankind…peoplekind
manhood…peoplehood
manatee…peopletee
manslaughter…peopleslaughter
mandate…peopledate.
Thank you.
May 29th, 2018 at 9:28 am
I would shop Jackson or Humphries….Godwin frankly offers a more total #2 receiver….He’s a bigger target with more athletic ability to go get the ball and will block better. Humphries is maxed out…..he is what he is and there’s two young guys with way more upside in Wilson and Watson. Not too mention we have two talented TEs to feed and a dynamic RB as well. Trade them while there’s value and let Godwin, Wilson, Watson play.
May 29th, 2018 at 9:37 am
Don’t shop anyone. Everyone will get plenty of reps. Godwin can spell Jackson when he does a fly pattern and needs a quick break. And Jackson could be the one who spends more time in the slot with Evans and Godwin out wide. Baring injuries Humphries is the guy losing touches…
May 29th, 2018 at 9:49 am
Rookie Jusin Watson is supposed to be a speedster.
Depending on how he plans out, may actually have alot to do with Jackson’s longevity here.
They want Jameis to have a speedster. Doesnt have to be Desean.
May 29th, 2018 at 10:32 am
There you are folks. All the pieces in place for Winston to succeed. It has to happen this year. We need to see him become that franchise QB he was billed as. No excuses. Godwin could be that guy but if the passes aren’t there and all of his yardage comes from garbage time in a game we’ve already lost the stats won’t mean a thing. We need wins now. We have the players on both sides of the ball, a coaching staff with a renewed approach (and motivated to keep their jobs), and a fan-base starving for a good football team. Let’s make this year our turning point so the Glazers want to open up that checkbook and keep these kids in TB.
It’s now or never!!! GOOOO BUCS!!!!
May 29th, 2018 at 10:57 am
we’ll see….
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!…#PRESSURESONTHECOACHES!!!!…GO BUCS!!!!
May 29th, 2018 at 11:41 am
I think he’ll take more snaps from DeSean Jackson than Adam Humphries.
Ira is right. Heck, DeSean Jackson might not even finish this year with the Bucs…not if a good trade offer comes along.
As to Godwin, I like him…but he still has a lot to prove. He wasn’t THAT great last year. WRs tend to have sophomore slumps…so lets see how he does.
May 29th, 2018 at 11:45 am
TBBF Agree with your theory. Like you I’d usually defer to Pickgrin on draft value and trade value and he could very well be correct.
But I think when teams look at trades or FA’s the first thing they check out is why does the current team want to unload the player. This is that time when the other team can see what happened…the Bucs are OVERLOADED with receivers!!! And as frequently happens when a young draft pick “blows up” or breaks out the older vet loses value both economically and strategically.
Koetter always say you can never have too many good football players…perhaps not but they can be overloaded at one position.
May 29th, 2018 at 2:06 pm
Wausa- lol classic.
Slightly off topic, but in that graphic is his uni camouflage? I don’t remember seeing camo uniforms last year, but I could get on board with them doing that more often, what with MacDill being right down the road.
May 29th, 2018 at 2:50 pm
TBBF and spbf – I’m not saying DJax is washed up or has no value.
I’m saying a getting a 3rd rd pick in trade for DJax is wishful thinking.
Just look at the trades this offseason for reference.
JPP is 29 and a top 10 DE in this league. He plays run and pass equally well and played more snaps in 2017 than any other DE in the NFL. His salary is in line if not slightly below market value for his age and abilities – and he has 3 years left on his current contract. AND the Bucs were desperate. So THERE’S your 3rd rd value in a trade.
Robert Quinn is 28 – had some injury issues the 2 previous years before last year when he was mostly healthy and fairly productive (8 1/2 sacks – same as JPP in 2017). Prior to that had 3 straight 10+ sack seasons including an almost unbelievable NINETEEN sacks in his 3rd year. His salary is roughly in line with his worth – maybe slightly above – with 2 years left on his current contract. Traded for a 4th and 6th.
Michael Bennett is 32 – is considered a top 10-15 DE in the NFL and can also play any position on the DLine. His sack #s are not eye popping – but he consistently gets 8-9 sacks per year the last 6 years – gets lots of pressure as well and like JPP – is equally good against run and in pass rush. Had 3 years left on his current contract – the cost of which (even considering age) is way below market “value” at only $5.6M in 2018, $7M in 2019 and $8.5M in 2020 – with no Guarantees. Traded for a 5th rd pick.
DE is absolutely considered a “premium” position in the NFL. WR is not. There are a lot more “good” WRs in the league already and coming out each year – than there are DEs.
Therefore a proven NFL DE is definitely more “valuable” than a proven WR.
DJax is turning 32 this season – Most would not rate him any higher than 25th best receiver in the league currently – if that. DeSean has 2 years left on an overpriced FA contract ($7M of which is guaranteed in 2018) and he’s coming off the worst statistical season of his 10 year career.
IMO – the best we could possibly hope for in trade for DJax – would be a 5th rd pick. But even that seems unlikely because it would have to be the perfect situation – as in a contending team that lost their #1 or #2 WR to injury with little depth behind. And they are intent on staying a contending team this year and willing to make a trade to keep themselves in contention Oh – and this “contending” team would also need to have $11M just sitting around not being accounted for…. (the biggest hurdle of all. Even if the Bucs agreed to absorb some of the salary and/or it was an Oct trade – the team wanting DJax would still need to pay at least $5M or $6M for his services. Not too many contending teams have that available – nor the $10M for next year which is the only way giving up any draft pick is worth it – if you get at least 2 years of service from the player.
At best the Bucs could maybe get a 5th or 6th rd pick for DJax at some point this year – but like I said – It all seems pretty unlikely.
I could be wrong – but I doubt it.
The most likely scenario is that DJax will play out 2018 with the Bucs – get his $11M this year as agreed upon – and then be cut next off season. Probably signing a 2 or 3 year deal as a FA next year in the $5-$6M per year range.
May 29th, 2018 at 4:44 pm
Hoping to see Justin Watson get opportunities in the slot and blow up this year. Shop Hump, DJax, and GMC next year for cash and picks.
May 29th, 2018 at 7:04 pm
I’m really hoping next season it’s Godwin e vans and that big rookie they drafted our starters. Trade djax for a kicker and put guys on the field who are hungry
Djax has lost the eye of the tiger