Call 2023 what it was - a failed experiment to move Chris Godwin to the outside. Baker Mayfield and Godwin had some chemistry issues to start the year and it seemed as though Dave Canales forgot over long stretches that he had a wide receiver on his team that Tom Brady named as having the best hands of any receiver he’d ever played with.
Now, under Liam Coen, Godwin is moving back to the inside and is set to explode.
Think back to Cooper Kupp’s unreal season in 2021. He was unstoppable. One of the best receiving seasons we’ve seen this century. Now, insert Godwin into the role Kupp played that year. Sounds nice, right?
I’m not saying Godwin is going to set records and have 2,000 yards and fifteen touchdowns or anything crazy, but he’s going to be a big part of this offense. Mike Evans is going to get his, he always does - but this offense is at its best when Godwin is getting double-digit targets a game.
He’s Mr. Reliable. He’s going to run the tough routes, he’s going to make the tough catches, and he’s going to extend drives. He’s always gotten to play with Evans, but when he was really at his peak was when there was another overwhelming receiving option on the team. Antoinio Brown, Rob Gronkowski - so enter Jalen McMillan.
Something that was missing from the Bucs’ offense last year was a legitimate wide receiver three. It was supposed to be Russell Gage but unfortunately the majority of his time in Tampa was spent injured and we never really saw the full scope of what those three players could do together. Now, with McMillan’s crisp route running and incredible catching ability, Godwin is going to find himself in more than a few favorable situations against lesser talent that, well, can’t stop him.
It’s crazy to think that after such a slow start last season, Godwin still ended up with over 1,000 yards. Now, under Coen and back to a more comfortable position of slot receiver where his skills are best suited, Godwin could be looking at a career year.
For reference, his most receiving yards in a season is 1,333, most receptions are 104, and most touchdowns would be 9. Now, I don’t think he’s looking at triple-digit receptions, but 80-plus receptions for 1,200 yards and his first double-digit touchdown season in this Sean McVay style offense? That’s in the wheelhouse for sure.
And just to address the elephant in the room, let’s not discount the fact that this is a contract year and whether it’s with the Bucs or someone else, Godwin is going to want to get paid. There’s an absurd amount of money being thrown around to receivers and someone will pay Chris Godwin a lot of money to come in and be part of their receiving corps. Mean to tell me a team like Buffalo wouldn’t want Godwin to come in and help Josh Allen? That he wouldn’t fit as a compliment to the Cardinals’ offense? Or what about heading back to the state he played college ball and joining the Steelers?
No matter what the case, Godwin is going to go out and prove to himself and the rest of the NFL world that he’s not on the decline and that he can rip a defense to shreds as well as ever. It may mean that he prices himself out of Tampa, which will break the hearts of Bucs fans - but it’s certainly going to be fun watching him do it all season long.
Call 2023 what it was - a failed experiment to move Chris Godwin to the outside. Baker Mayfield and Godwin had some chemistry issues to start the year and it seemed as though Dave Canales forgot over long stretches that he had a wide receiver on his team that Tom Brady named as having the best hands of any receiver he’d ever played with.
Now, under Liam Coen, Godwin is moving back to the inside and is set to explode.
Think back to Cooper Kupp’s unreal season in 2021. He was unstoppable. One of the best receiving seasons we’ve seen this century. Now, insert Godwin into the role Kupp played that year. Sounds nice, right?
I’m not saying Godwin is going to set records and have 2,000 yards and fifteen touchdowns or anything crazy, but he’s going to be a big part of this offense. Mike Evans is going to get his, he always does - but this offense is at its best when Godwin is getting double-digit targets a game.
He’s Mr. Reliable. He’s going to run the tough routes, he’s going to make the tough catches, and he’s going to extend drives. He’s always gotten to play with Evans, but when he was really at his peak was when there was another overwhelming receiving option on the team. Antoinio Brown, Rob Gronkowski - so enter Jalen McMillan.
Something that was missing from the Bucs’ offense last year was a legitimate wide receiver three. It was supposed to be Russell Gage but unfortunately the majority of his time in Tampa was spent injured and we never really saw the full scope of what those three players could do together. Now, with McMillan’s crisp route running and incredible catching ability, Godwin is going to find himself in more than a few favorable situations against lesser talent that, well, can’t stop him.
It’s crazy to think that after such a slow start last season, Godwin still ended up with over 1,000 yards. Now, under Coen and back to a more comfortable position of slot receiver where his skills are best suited, Godwin could be looking at a career year.
For reference, his most receiving yards in a season is 1,333, most receptions are 104, and most touchdowns would be 9. Now, I don’t think he’s looking at triple-digit receptions, but 80-plus receptions for 1,200 yards and his first double-digit touchdown season in this Sean McVay style offense? That’s in the wheelhouse for sure.
And just to address the elephant in the room, let’s not discount the fact that this is a contract year and whether it’s with the Bucs or someone else, Godwin is going to want to get paid. There’s an absurd amount of money being thrown around to receivers and someone will pay Chris Godwin a lot of money to come in and be part of their receiving corps. Mean to tell me a team like Buffalo wouldn’t want Godwin to come in and help Josh Allen? That he wouldn’t fit as a compliment to the Cardinals’ offense? Or what about heading back to the state he played college ball and joining the Steelers?
No matter what the case, Godwin is going to go out and prove to himself and the rest of the NFL world that he’s not on the decline and that he can rip a defense to shreds as well as ever. It may mean that he prices himself out of Tampa, which will break the hearts of Bucs fans - but it’s certainly going to be fun watching him do it all season long.
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