(Photo: Athlon Sports)
Chris Godwin was drafted in 2017 by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the third round of the draft from Penn State. Early on in his career, it appeared as if he were an afterthought playing behind DeSean Jackson and Mike Evans and as expected, he didn’t get much playing time or targets when he did play at that. In 2019, he recorded his first 1,000-yard season and a season later, he’s a Super Bowl champion. This past season, he dislocated his ankle and had to miss the rest of the year unfortunately. It’s always tough seeing a guy get injured. I truly thought the Buccaneers were going to let Chris walk into free agency because of the emergence of Jalen McMillan who filled in for him last year. Instead, the team has decided to resign him! It’s a three-year deal worth $66 million.
Everyone by now knows that Mike Evans is the catalyst of this Tampa Bay offensive attack. The offense travels through him and it always will. Chris on the other hand is their most important player and brings so much that impacts the game not included on the state sheet. Yes, he’s shorter and those smaller receivers do much of the inside work, but Chris can go over the top and create down the field as if he were a possession receiver, plus, he has zero fear of running his routes in traffic. When he catches the ball, he almost becomes a Running Back in the open field once the ball is in his hands and becomes very difficult to bring down. Chris has earned the nickname “Mr. YAC” with his ability to move so well after the catch. I’ve always admired how he can line up just about anywhere and get the job done and he can beat you deep down the field, in intermediate spaces, then he can attack you in the screen game where I feel he does his best work. Anytime his number is called, he steps up to the plate and delivers. Chris always makes those tough catches and will leap over defenders to get the football in mid air.
I always said when Tom Brady signed with the Buccaneers in 2020, Chris Godwin was the guy I was most excited about because Tom always played with smaller and shifty receivers, but none quite like CG14 He’s such a vital piece of what the Buccaneers do as an offense and I’ve often referred to him as the most important piece of their group. I’m glad he’s coming back and he was extended. Chris and Mike Evans are one of the best Wide Receiver tandems in the league.
