Chris Godwin Delivers Cold But Exciting Reality
May 24th, 2023
A lost stat of the 2022 Buccaneers season is Chris Godwin catching 104 balls for 1,023 yards in just 15 games.
Godwin got the job done despite starting the season only eight-plus months removed from major knee surgery (ACL), and then he missed games with a September hamstring issue. Still, Godwin racked up all those catches, two shy of the Bucs’ single-season record (Keshawn Johnson in 2001).
What a testament it was to Godwin’s drive and rehab discipline. But what makes it even more exciting is Godwin saying yesterday that he’s now — not then — “very close” to being as explosive as he was prior to the injury in December of 2021.
That got Joe jacked up. Remember, it was a few years after ACL surgery that Cooper Kupp tore up the NFL with 145 catches for 1,947 yards and 16 touchdowns in the 2021 season.
Joe is not saying Godwin will post historic numbers like that in 2023, but he’s in his prime at 27 years old and has the talent.
Kupp was 28 when he posted that magical season, and Godwin will have plenty of single-coverage opportunities with Mike Evans on the field and defenses gearing up to stop the Bucs’ running game.
To win the NFC South, the Bucs likely will need one of their stud receivers to have close to a career year.
Why not Godwin?
Dial up The Ira Kaufman Podcast. Ira was at the first OTA practice of the season Tuesday and has plenty to share, on that and more.
May 24th, 2023 at 1:59 pm
Agreed . Cg is a beast and people are under estimating how much a receiver can make a qb look better than they really are… Johnny football comes to mind …..
May 24th, 2023 at 2:04 pm
The only problem is that back then, we were is a no risk ie-no biscuit offense. It might be hard to rack up those kind of numbers in a running offense.
May 24th, 2023 at 2:04 pm
Imagine a rolling pocket and hitting Evans and Godwin with short passes in stride and getting them into the middle of the field.
May 24th, 2023 at 2:05 pm
I agreed Joshua…
That’s one reason why I love Mike Evans so much…He put up big numbers with Johnny Football, Josh McCown, and Jameis…
May 24th, 2023 at 2:15 pm
Stats are for losers. Just win baby. If they hadn’t rushed Godwin back, the hamstring may have never been an issue. QB is the biggest problem.
May 24th, 2023 at 2:33 pm
On the recent Ira podcast, there was a debate about playing CG some on the outside, and the one Joe who is steadfast about leaving well enough alone, ala Wirfs, sounded like he saw how/agreed how moving CG around will keep defenses honest and guessing.
I’m curious to see how much CG will be moved around, if Canales is worthy of a good OC, that is. Despite many questions about the team this year, what this fan KNOWS is that CG and ME will be money, and a bright spot sans injury.
Ball out CG and GOBUCS!!!
May 24th, 2023 at 2:34 pm
But but but you didn’t talk about trask
May 24th, 2023 at 2:35 pm
CG14 is a Beast!!!He´s always been, even last year!!!!
Him and ME13 can make Baker M look really good….Let´s see what Canales has to say about it!
May 24th, 2023 at 2:58 pm
We will likely pass less often, but if the defense can no longer ignore the run threat, it will be EASIER to pass, and we can run longer patterns
May 24th, 2023 at 3:16 pm
Well DUH. That’s the whole point of the new coordinator
May 24th, 2023 at 3:17 pm
2 blown ACL’s here…….it take a year for it to really feel normal again and get complete strength and confidence back
May 24th, 2023 at 3:20 pm
Not bad for a guy selected in the 3rd round, not bad at all.
May 24th, 2023 at 3:23 pm
Chris Godwin is perhaps Jason Licht’s best ever draft pick considering he was picked in the 3rd round.
May 24th, 2023 at 3:36 pm
Listened to his presser yesterday, that got me excited. Said he felt great, loves Canales’s offense, loves the new energy in the building, and likes what he sees in our new receiver. He said he doesn’t care what the experts say about our chances, sounds like he’ll do his best to prove the doubters wrong. Had good things to say about Both QB’s. Chris is excited about what’s to come. Maybe we should all be too.
May 24th, 2023 at 3:55 pm
honestly, if Canales installs a really good offensive system, the bucs’ offense cud be off the charts good, because they’ve been using mediocre systems almost every year since 1976. i think we have better offensive players than say, the seahawks did last year for example
May 24th, 2023 at 3:57 pm
oh that injury was brutal for the Bucs in 2021
how it changed a lot that year — he was just dominant
lots of optimism to see him explode this year — got to be able to get him the ball though
May 24th, 2023 at 4:09 pm
Please limit the number of WR screens this season… OMG. I think our last offensive coordinator only knew 5 plays to call.
I noticed on Over the Cap – Chris Godwin’s contract is up in 2024 and the Bucs will owe him $18.85M in dead cap money.
Another interesting side note – Mike Evans’ contract is up after this season and we will owe him $12.2M of dead cap in 2024.
I believe Mike Evans might have his current deal extended – because the Bucs only currently have @ 460K of cap space. Signing our draft pics will cost @ $3.9M.
Or something may still happen with Devin White.
May 24th, 2023 at 5:44 pm
The receptions were greatly inflated by all those stupid screen passes that Leftwich kept calling. Hopefully they use Godwin a lot better this year and don’t have him just catching a bunch of passes on 2nd and 9 for 2 yards.
May 24th, 2023 at 5:47 pm
Marine Buc – I think it’s extremely likely the Bucs extend Evans, I’m pretty sure that’s always been the plan since the Bucs have to make a move to sign the rookies and Evans is the logical pick, and has always done terms (not money, but terms) friendly to the team.
As for Godwin, I’m certain they’d extend him if he’s open to it, but based on last year, and the cap exploding next year, he’s going to get probably $26-28m. Teams might be holding off on giving guys that money until they actually know the cap increase next year, and if it’s really going up $60m – or if let’s say it only goes up $40m, which would change a lot of stuff.
May 24th, 2023 at 6:36 pm
@ Rod
I agree with you on the Bucs extending Evans. Seems like the logical choice…
I know the salary cap will be going up next year. Over the Cap has the 2024 cap at $256M. They are usually pretty accurate.
Good thing we got the $35M owed to TB12 done this year because we will be in decent cap shape next year with $32M of available cap to spend.
That is $87M more than we had this off season to spend.
May 24th, 2023 at 6:42 pm
Every game he plays, I yell at the TV “throw it to Godwin!!! He’s your Duuuuude!!!!!”
Yes I’m weird. Lol.
May 24th, 2023 at 6:44 pm
Also. I’m absolutely shocked that none of Leftwich’s screens got taking for a pick six. Just saying.
May 24th, 2023 at 9:20 pm
Godwin was wasted on drinks and dunks last season. And he took too many hard hits running those short over the middle passes . Love to see him get a lot more deeper crossing routes and quick outs away from the pounding he took from linebackers and double teams over the middle. Let the tight ends work the middle and slants against the lbs. Bucks have some beef now at TE.
May 24th, 2023 at 9:24 pm
AtlBuc Says:
May 24th, 2023 at 2:04 pm
The only problem is that back then, we were is a no risk ie-no biscuit offense. It might be hard to rack up those kind of numbers in a running offense
_______
The offense Canales is bringing in is very similar to the one Kupp played in in 2021.
May 24th, 2023 at 9:26 pm
Jason Says:
May 24th, 2023 at 6:44 pm
Also. I’m absolutely shocked that none of Leftwich’s screens got taking for a pick six. Just saying
_______
Yes, I’m sure it was all Leftwich that continuously called WR screens all season because his wife took his nuts in the divorce.
May 25th, 2023 at 9:05 am
We serious got the best 2 WRs in the league not only are they studs and have the production to back it up. ME13 only player in NFL history with 9 straight 1k yards. They also have team 1st attitudes. Which is rare usually stud WRs are divas. Still can’t believe ME13 whole career he’s never not gone over 1k. Look also at the QBs he had throwing him the ball makes it even more impressive and that was before a game got added to the season. ME13 1st ballot HOF