The Next Julio Jones?
June 23rd, 2020
Sneaky good numbers.
If Joe asked a random Bucs fan if he would like Julio Jones on the roster, zero strings attached, it is unlikely any fan would scoff.
Now what if Joe said the Bucs already have the next Julio Jones on the roster?
On Twitter, Joe was tipped off by a reader, @UndergroundPixl, who compared Jones’ numbers in his first three seasons in the NFL to Godwin’s. They are eerily similar and one could argue Godwin has better numbers.
Just to play it safe, Joe ran the numbers on Pro Football Reference, and it is spooky how close Jones and Godwin’s numbers are. Through his first three seasons, Jones had 2,737 yards receiving on 174 catches with 20 touchdowns. Godwin has 2,700 yards on 179 catches with 17 touchdowns.
Jones put up his numbers in 34 games. Godwin racked up his numbers in 46.
Jones has 15.7 yards per catch; Godwin is at 15.1.
The only area where Jones has Godwin by a good number is yards per game. Jones averaged 80.5 yards a game whereas Godwin averaged 58.7. Joe will chalk that up to Godwin not being a full-time starter until last season.
So for any Bucs fan who pines for a receiver like Julio Jones. Well, he’s already on the roster. And playing quite well.
June 23rd, 2020 at 12:05 am
Godwin’s fantastic on every front- not taking anything form him
Jones is a physical freak of nature, that’s the big difference
June 23rd, 2020 at 12:22 am
Last year on that bubble screen pass vs the rams he met eyes with Talib and knocked his ass out the way for a TD! Damn that was impressive as hell he’ll be better than Julio!
June 23rd, 2020 at 1:02 am
I think Godwin will make his case for being the best wide receiver in the league this year.
June 23rd, 2020 at 1:15 am
In the future, Joe may be writing “The next Chris Godwin?”
June 23rd, 2020 at 2:30 am
Julio is the fastest receiver to 12,000 yard like godwin can even come close to that
June 23rd, 2020 at 2:31 am
Not sure what game it was, but Godwin caught a ball in end zone, one-handed, and I had to rewind and watch in slo-motion 5X to see his one handed haul…… still not sure how he did it.
Godwin is a BEAST….if he is ever a #1 featured WR, watch out…. Brady should target Godwin ahead of ME13 or Gronk….IMHO….
June 23rd, 2020 at 6:31 am
Completley different players size stenghth and style. Julio is a freak ans toward rhe back.end.of his career as well. Chris is a top shelf wr due to his work ethic
June 23rd, 2020 at 7:22 am
CG is also a physical freak of nature. Ever since the last game of the season his rookie year when he caught the game winning td against New Orleans, I knew we were seeing the making of a game changer. I said in 2018 that he’s better than Mike Evans based on intangibles n still believe that today. I believe somewhere down the line Evans will soon be traded or request a trade n CG will be the #1 receiver. I believe a good strategy would be to use Evans for trade bait to bring in a playmaker vet DE n some OL dept. With or w/o Evans we still have good receiving corps.
June 23rd, 2020 at 7:37 am
We need to extend Godwin NOW!!!! His price will pnly go up.
June 23rd, 2020 at 8:40 am
Hopefully, by my ordering a Godwin jersey this year, he won’t be jinxed. Barring injury, the dude should have a monster year! It’s all about building chemistry with Brady.
June 23rd, 2020 at 8:51 am
Two different players IMO. Julio is a physical freak of nature. Julio is very explosive and big. However I do believe that Godwin is a better route runner than Julio. I think he has all the tools to become a top 5 receiver. I think with him playing the slot was one of the best football moves last year. I think he can lead the league in catches however I do think his TDs will drop this year. I won’t be surprise if Evans, Gronk, or Howard lead the team in TD receptions this year. I think this year Evans will be utilized alot in the redzone this year with Brady.
June 23rd, 2020 at 9:03 am
I wanted Godwin on draft day. The kid was already running a full route tree out of college. I did a little dance when we drafted him. He turned out to be even better than I thought he would be. Bonus!!
June 23rd, 2020 at 9:25 am
One of Licht’s best picks?
June 23rd, 2020 at 9:38 am
Correct me if I’m wrong but I think Julio started his career as the number one option. Godwin started his career as the number two behind Mike Evans who has been putting up HOF numbers himself. In other words, we have to compare situation as well to get a true feel for future potential.
June 23rd, 2020 at 9:46 am
I was excited about Godwin when we drafted him out of PSU and have much the same feeling about Tyler Johnson! I think their college careers are quite similar with great production and each had historically great days for their schools in their final bowl games! Godwin went late in 3rd round and Johnson was taken in upper half of the 5th round. Since the 2020 draft was so deep in talent, Johnson went at least a round later than what he should have been just on college production alone. If Johnson had run a 40 yard dash at combine and posted around a 4.5 – 40 time, he easily would have been drafted in the third round. Having watched him on game film matched up against OSU, PSU and Aub dbs which all have NFL quality speed, he is plenty fast enough. Schools like OSU and PSU focus on training their athletes to become faster and stronger much more than a program like Minnesote. I suspect with enhanced training in the NFl with the Bucs, TJ ends up being close to a 4.5 forty guy and will eventually be a high end #2 receiver!
June 23rd, 2020 at 10:04 am
Joe just stop! Not even close to Julio. Don’t put expectations on him he’ll never achieve.
June 23rd, 2020 at 10:11 am
Anonymous Says:
June 23rd, 2020 at 2:30 am
Julio is the fastest receiver to 12,000 yard like godwin can even come close to that
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
I know who will beat that his name is Mike Evans
June 23rd, 2020 at 10:19 am
I wanted Godwin badly too.
So glad we grabbed him. He’s exceeded all expectations. His numbers his rookie season weren’t anything out of the norm, but the last 2 seasons he’s right up there with Julio.
And speaking of Julio, it seems like he has a down year every 3-4 seasons, so hopefully this year he’s just average.
June 23rd, 2020 at 10:42 am
Julio is damn good, but nowhere near as good as the media and some folks make him out to be. Is he a freak, once in a lifetime player? Hell no. That dude’s name is Randy Moss and he makes Julio look pedestrian. Averaging just over 6 touchdowns per year does not scream “sure fire hall of famer” to me in today’s pass happy era. Just for reference, Moss averaged over 10 touchdowns per year and Mike Evans is at 8.
Speaking of Mike, he has been better than Julio for the last few years and Godwin should leave him in the dust soon enough as well. Even dudes in our local media (Ira Kaufman I’m still sore at you) are putting lesser players like DeAndre freaking Hopkins (!?!) over Mike and it’s just damn silly. Mike doesn’t get his just due for being the best receiver on the planet and I’m sick of it. 😛
June 23rd, 2020 at 11:24 am
Roddy White was our number 1 and Julio also missed more then half of his third season. So if he had played his 3rd year his numbers would be higher
June 23rd, 2020 at 11:40 am
I dunno. Two different players, IMO.
Jones has jets and can stretch the field. Godwin is more a fast possession guy.
Hard to compare except in numbers.
June 23rd, 2020 at 12:20 pm
Julio has him beat in games played as well, Joe, since he produced in fewer games.
I personally don’t like comparing players to other players, except maybe QBs.
Godwin has done well, but he said ill has a lot to prove. Mike Evans is our best WR.
June 23rd, 2020 at 1:33 pm
Joe Says:
June 23rd, 2020 at 9:25 am
I wanted Godwin on draft day. The kid was already running a full route tree out of college. I did a little dance when we drafted him. He turned out to be even better than I thought he would be. Bonus!!
One of Licht’s best picks?
Joe, easily. At least value wise. Evans is still “the Best Pick”
June 25th, 2020 at 1:07 pm
Horrible use of stats. Godwin played 12 more games, 30% more than Jones. Correct for that and Jones has much better numbers.