Could The Bucs Be Preparing For Life After Chris Godwin?
February 26th, 2025
Ohio State WR Emeka Egbuka.
Joe didn’t like the vibe from Bucs types yesterday at the combine inside the NFL beehive that is the Indiana Convention Center.
That bad vibe came when they were talking about Chris Godwin.
The Bucs love Godwin but his dislocated ankle suffered against the Crows in October seems to have the team at least a little bit concerned. It’s a major injury without question. Will Godwin be the old Godwin when he’s able to return to the field — if he returns to the field?
Bucs coach Todd Bowles rattled off four areas that he is focusing on improving the team. Edge rush, inside linebacker, secondary and wide receiver.
If the Bucs were confident about Godwin’s return, why focus on receiver?
Then Joe read a mock draft from an awful mocker, Bucky Brooks of NFL Network. Joe simply doesn’t care for mock drafts unless it is the last one a mocker does before the actual draft. Besides, too many of these guys have cavalier attitudes and openly scoff at striving for accuracy. So why should Joe pay five seconds of attention to your nonsense if you’re not trying to be accurate? What’s the point?
However, in Brooks’ mock he had the Bucs selecting Ohio State receiver Emeka Egbuka at No. 19.
This Egbuka is a Godwin clone.
Anyone who has watched the Buckeyes the past two years has seen that. Egbuka is reliable; he loves to block in the run game and he’s tough as hell. Just like Godwin is.
That got Joe thinking: The draft is deep at edge rusher. Maybe Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Licht thinks he can draft the next Godwin at No. 19 and still get an edge rusher in the second round?
Bowles mentioned yesterday that there are all kinds of talented players at inside linebacker; they’re just getting pushed down in the draft by receivers and edge rushers.
Look, if the Bucs believe Godwin can bounce back from an ugly injury, great. If Godwin leaves, and the Bucs get this Egbuka, that’s about the best-case scenario out of an otherwise depressing turn of events.
https:/twitter.com/dpbrugler/status/1841262123420196957
Emeka Egbuka is so incredibly polished from both the slot and outside. Great speed, great technique. Attention to detail on everything he does! #Browns #Buckeyes pic.twitter.com/bEpGmRZkel
— Lance Reisland (Coach Riz) (@LanceReisland) February 21, 2025
February 26th, 2025 at 10:36 am
if this happens then please trade back
February 26th, 2025 at 10:38 am
RAIDERS MAKE TOO MUCH SENSE
1. They have the 2nd most cap. This is his last big payday.
2. They need a WR. He was TB12’s fav. TB12 is a part owner.
3. Carroll loves to run. CG is great downfield blocker.
4. Zero income tax.
TB12 called CG’s wife and told him to get the biggest number from Tampa and they’d beat it.
February 26th, 2025 at 10:39 am
OR…
Smoke warning other teams the Gidwin has rehab issues to drive down his price?
February 26th, 2025 at 10:40 am
Open season for Liar’s Poker…
February 26th, 2025 at 10:41 am
This guy looks like our GM’s wet dream.
[As always, unfortunately, no links in the comments. The Goo Gal doesn’t like it. 🙁 Sorry. — Joe]
February 26th, 2025 at 10:45 am
Accuracy? There’s no such thing as accuracy when it’s all speculation to begin with. I believe they’re trying to make predictions based on the best information they have at that time.
This is why I don’t understand J03’s issue with mock drafts. They’re the same thing as every other aspect of NFL offseason media. As days go by, the information/BS cycle flows and the mockers impression of what may happen evolves. For those interested in the NFL draft, it serves the purpose of learning more about what NFL GM’s might be thinking, and about college players we haven’t heard of if we don’t follow the college game.
Should guys only do mock drafts on the day before the draft? Also, since I’m sure J03 is a capitalist, do you know how much money the NFLDraft Industrial Complex is worth. Draft speculation is the lifeblood of the league in the offseason, far more than free agency.
February 26th, 2025 at 10:53 am
The question is, what kind of person is he? We now he can play, but will he fit the mold of the new Bucs’ culture? Disciplined, humble, non-diva, team first, etc.
February 26th, 2025 at 10:56 am
Dude’s got some speed.
February 26th, 2025 at 11:06 am
PSL Bob Says:
February 26th, 2025 at 10:53 am
New? They’ve been working on this culture for most of the last decade. The rare exceptions they’ve made have not lasted long.
February 26th, 2025 at 11:15 am
The only way I like this would be if we added an Edge in FA with the money we save from Chris. I’m tired of 2nd and 3rd round guys.
Most of the elite OLBs go early or in the 1st.
Don’t tell me we plan on winning the lottery to compete.
February 26th, 2025 at 11:38 am
Yes!
That’s the way Joel Buchsbaum did it and the way Mike Mayock did it. If you believe in your sources and believe in your convictions and believe in your research and information, you don’t have to change your mock more often than you change underwear.
If some guy has to have a different mock per week starting in January, that tells Joe he either has no sources, he doesn’t trust his sources or he’s fully throwing shiite against the wall.
February 26th, 2025 at 11:55 am
Chris is BADLY injured and may never even play again. What are the Yucs thinking here!
February 26th, 2025 at 12:13 pm
The Bucs are already on the hook for 18 mil salary cap from his last contract. Why not sign him one year 18 mil no harm no foul.
February 26th, 2025 at 12:50 pm
Chris will be back. It might not even be this season.
February 26th, 2025 at 12:53 pm
Would be okay with this pick. I also like the idea of taking either Jeanty or Hampton to pair with Bucky. A combo like that would make us almost unstoppable with play action. And keep both backs fresh.
February 26th, 2025 at 1:04 pm
Cobraboy said it. When I read those comments yesterday all I could think was the Bucs are overhyping the injury so that other teams have second thoughts, sort of like how teams often mislead the press (and other teams) about their draft strategy and who they might be targeting.
February 26th, 2025 at 1:46 pm
The offense is fine. Draft defense, defense, defense. And then defense.
February 26th, 2025 at 2:14 pm
Why target receiver? Who do the Bucs have after Evans, MacMillan, and Godwin?
February 26th, 2025 at 2:20 pm
Your answer is in the story.
Well, maybe the Bucs won’t Godwin. They won’t have Evans (for long). So there you go.
February 26th, 2025 at 2:23 pm
Go rake up the leaves and put your grandmas phone back loser
February 26th, 2025 at 2:47 pm
Even if Godwin doesn’t come back we don’t need a WR in round 1. We have plenty of guys capable. Evans is WR1 and Macmillan is WR2 and we have other guys that can step in for the slot WR or draft someone in later rounds. This team needs defense really bad. How many times do we have to yell at the TV that the defense can’t stop anyone.
February 26th, 2025 at 4:11 pm
81
Everybody’s got a plan until they get punched in the hamstring
February 26th, 2025 at 4:29 pm
My guess is they keep him, he’s already hitting the cap for $18M due to option years, signing him for $20M a year could realistically save us $15 in year 1
February 26th, 2025 at 6:14 pm
Stop F’ing around. You lose Godwin and Free Agents will see you don’t respect those guys who have broken their asses for the team.
February 26th, 2025 at 6:25 pm
Bucs dont draft Ohio State players
February 26th, 2025 at 7:27 pm
Joe Says:
February 26th, 2025 at 11:38 am
That’s fine for guys who want to wait it out until all the gyrations and rumor mills have churned. At the same time, many nfl fans enjoy the early speculation and it’s an opportunity to learn about top prospects leading up to the draft. If fans want the information, there are plenty of nfl media people happy to fill the need. It makes for interesting offseason entertainment and it’s informative. It doesn’t have to be the final word. It’s speculation based on the best available information at the time.
February 26th, 2025 at 8:16 pm
You may be on to something, Joe.
And you may not.
You yourself have said there’s a lot of smoke and mirrors and misdirection that goes on at the combine.
I do a Google news search of the Bucs every day. In sincerity, every day for the past month, someone is out with a mock draft that has us taking a WR in round one.
Chris and Mike are tight. Mike mentored Chris. And Chris watched Mike take a team-friendly deal. Chris now mentors the younger WRs
Baker loves Chris. Chris is his favorite target. Chris watched Baker take a team-friendly deal.
Chris has publicly stated how much he respects Baker as a dog and a baller.
Chris may leave, but there’s a lot of good karma working to encourage him to stay.
Still, giving consideration to drafting a WR makes sense to me when I look at where our WR corps will be in a couple of years.
If this young man from Ohio is from the same mold as Chris, that’s even better in my mind. It doesn’t mean we draft him.
But…there’s a reason Chris is a top free agent.
February 26th, 2025 at 9:28 pm
Paris Warren.
I’ve been saying this for months.
February 26th, 2025 at 10:34 pm
Egbuka is a player. I watch a lot of OSU and this kid is quietly productive. He was overshadowed by Marv and Smith, two generational players. Egbuka is my top pick fir us.
February 27th, 2025 at 9:01 am
Just back from a trip and catching up.
This thread was very entertaining.
First there was F.A.’s response calling out Joe. And I agreed with his take and respected Joe for letting it ride.
Then the response…”he doesn’t trust his sources or he’s fully throwing shiite against the wall.”
Also hard to argue with that!
I think I’m going with V.A.’s “You may be on to something, Joe.
And you may not.’
Amen Sister. That’s pretty much the entire NLF silly season encapusulated.
But it’s what entertains us I guess. The fact that nobody is right and nobody is wrong and who really knows provides a certain sense of freedom.
This is why I’ve always loved Billy Joel’s “You MAY be Right”
You may be right
I may be crazy
Oh, but it just may be a lunatic you’re looking for
It’s too late to fight
It’s too late to change me
You may be wrong for all I know
But you may be right
February 27th, 2025 at 10:44 am
BillyBucco Says:
There are no savings the first year with Godwin if he leaves. He has dead cap money of a little over 18 million which can only be applied to him.