“He’s Going To Empty His Tank”
August 30th, 2024
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BY IRA KAUFMAN
Here’s some free advice for all of you football geeks preparing for a fantasy draft — there’s a Buc receiver you should absolutely jump on.
Yes, we know Mike Evans is good for more than 1,000 yards and a lot of touchdowns. That’s why he’ll be one of the first wideouts off the board. But check out his sidekick, who figures to be a steal.
Chris Godwin, only 28, is hoping for a contract extension in 2025 that will keep him in Tampa, perhaps for the rest of an accomplished career. He’s back in the slot where he belongs and he appears fully recovered from the torn knee ligaments that wrecked the end of his 2021 season.
“Chris is a guy who’s going to come down with the ball on third-and-5 and keep the chains moving,” says safety Jordan Whitehead. “He also does a great job blocking and he’s a great teammate. He always produces and he’s going to make some noise from the slot. When you think of him and Mike, together, that’s been the best tandem in the league for a long time.”
Godwin has played in the immense shadow cast by Evans since the Bucs selected him in the third round of the 2017 draft. While he’s never been considered a No. 1 target, he’s a heck of a No. 2.
Look around the league. Would you rather have Godwin or Tee Higgins, Jaylen Waddle, DeVonta Smith. Tyler Lockett or Deebo Samuel?
I’ll take No. 14.
“He’s looking great,” says Kyle Trask. “Chris is looking as fast as he’s ever looked and we’re putting him in the best position to succeed. He’s been crushing it. Chris can do it all … he gets open, he can block and he’s a great leader for the guys in that room.”
One priority for new offensive coordinator Liam Coen is to reintroduce Godwin to the end zone.
In his first five seasons, Godwin scored 29 touchdowns. He has only five in his past two years combined. That’s not acceptable for a player of Godwin’s caliber.
“It’s a big year, but every year is a big year for me,” Godwin says. “I go in with the expectation that I’m going to get better. The thing I’m most concerned about is trying to win. I think I have the potential to play a big role on this team.”
Besides seeing his TD totals plunge, Godwin’s yards per catch tumbled since he returned from knee surgery in 2022. He has seen his healthy average of 13.6 drop off to a paltry average of only 10.9 yards per reception during the last two years.
Godwin has been forced to play out of his comfort zone since 2022. Perhaps the Bucs were trying to protect his repaired knee by moving him to the outside, but the move didn’t play to Godwin’s strengths. The frustrations showed at times last season as the Buc offense plodded along.
Now he’s back in the middle of the field, determined to do some major damage. Godwin excels at the grimy work required on running inside routes and blocking downfield. He’s been an afterthought in the red zone the past two years and you can bet Baker Mayfield has an expanded plan for Godwin this fall.
Godwin’s base salary this season is $20 million and he could be an unrestricted free agent in 2025. If the Bucs allow him to test the market, Godwin won’t lack for suitors.
“Contract year or no contract year, you’re going to get the same with Chris,” says Jason Licht. “He’s going to give us everything. He’s going to empty his tank and he looks better than he has in the past couple years.”
Godwin is confident the Bucs will earn a postseason berth for the fifth consecutive season. He likes the talent, he likes the coaching and he likes the chemistry.
“We have a bunch of experienced guys who are very comfortable communicating with each other,” he says. “I think we have good schemes. This room is very tight — and that matters. You play for the guys next to you.”
The Bucs have a rich history of keeping their core players. Godwin qualifies, especially if he returns to his 2019 form, when his average of 95.2 receiving yards per game ranked second in the league.
“Chris is a guy you look at because he does all the right things,” Whitehead says. “He takes care of his body and he’s locked in every day. If you ask me, there’s one word that describes Chris Godwin the best … he’s a pro.”
August 30th, 2024 at 10:50 am
Chris is a great player and great person and also Ira is a great writer!
August 30th, 2024 at 10:52 am
I drafted Godwin over DK Metcalf in my FFB due to
How important this contract year is for him.
Think he will targeted early & often to move the chains…
Hoping for 100 catches, 1200 yards, & at least 8 TD’s this year 🙂
August 30th, 2024 at 11:04 am
I am fired up!
LFG!
August 30th, 2024 at 11:37 am
“Contract year or no contract year, you’re going to get the same with Chris”
So true. This guy is a warrior.
August 30th, 2024 at 11:52 am
he is the fantasy darling this year but I’m skeptical. Hopefully it was just a protection issue but he seemed to lock on to Evans mostly.
August 30th, 2024 at 11:53 am
We have some hungry dogs on this team, sky is the limit, L F G !!!
August 30th, 2024 at 12:15 pm
Everybody’s yards per catch suffered in 2022. Brady was Dink and dunking constantly and refused to throw the ball down the field.
August 30th, 2024 at 1:20 pm
Brandon, Brady had one nano second each snap for protection before he was mushed. Wasnt his fault, as a collective, our O Line was one of the worst in football. They couldn’t open a hole for a rb to save their lives, anllowed teams to blitz and it was a $hit show all the way around. Take a shot at Brady if you want but obviously 10 other guys sucked just as bad.
August 30th, 2024 at 1:32 pm
I second Cometowin!
August 30th, 2024 at 2:50 pm
Godwin wouldn’t be a #2 to very many receivers in this league. It just so happens that Evans is one of them.
August 30th, 2024 at 3:27 pm
Couldn’t agree more with Whitehead’s last statement. He’s a pro and a hell of a decent human. Much respect!
August 30th, 2024 at 4:07 pm
Fantasy sports is garbage.
Godwin is great though. Hope he can finish here.
August 30th, 2024 at 9:25 pm
Great article Ira. I was very lucky in one fantasy draft which I just participated in; getting Godwin early in the 9th round (10 team draft, 0.5 ppr so my pick was in the mid 80’s) and the other #2’s which Ira mentioned above were all taken much earlier (most in the 3rd or 4th round). As far as other Bucs, Mike Evans was the first one off of the board, a buddy of mine took him as the second pick of the third round, #22, and then Rashaad White was taken last in that round as an RB2 for another team. My pick of Godwin was the 3rd Buc and then someone took a flier on Mayfield as the second to last pick in 2nd to last round (everyone in our draft used their last pick on a kicker) and then the guy who has Rashaad White took Bucky Irving as a handcuff and the “non-kicker” Mr Irrelevant of our draft. Obviously the Bucs with the exception of Evans and White have been underestimated if you look at ADP.
August 31st, 2024 at 12:13 am
With guys like this leading our team into the season and still so many 7 or 8 win predictions it’s hard to understand what they’re seeing that I’m not. Easily the best 1 and 2 WRs in football as far as character goes. And with talent like that character goes an awful long way. We’re a Super Bowl contender right now. Guaranteed.
August 31st, 2024 at 1:38 am
Spot on as always Sage!
Preaching to the choir. Godwin may be the most underrated WR in football. Canales misused him and Baker was more worried about getting the ball to Evans than perhaps he should have been IMO.
Go Bucs!
August 31st, 2024 at 4:29 am
Bucs do have a way of keeping core players, and Godwin will be the next one. He likes it here, we love him, and there is great chemistry going on. Looking forward to this season.
September 1st, 2024 at 11:10 am
Still scratching my head and applauding Jordan Whitehead’s return. He’s right, and he’s practiced against CG14 for several years. Future HOFamer ME13 took Ungodly Godwin under his wing from the time CG showed up here. Plus, those two are class acts off-the-field, and friends, too. Thanks Ira. I don’t call CD14 UNGODLY for nothing! Go Bucs!!
September 1st, 2024 at 11:11 am
CG14, hate typos!