Chris Godwin = Exceptionalism
February 7th, 2026
Chris Godwin is as dependable as they come.
Joe has to admit he was surprised by these numbers.
Chris Godwin was already established as a top-shelf receiver before Super Bowl-winning coach Bucco Bruce Arians arrived in Tampa Bay.
But when Arians arrived, he saw a specific role for Godwin: in the slot. Arians saw Godwin as his Bucs’ version of two receivers he molded in the past: Larry Fitzgerald and Himes Ward.
Fitzgerald just got elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. And Ward likely will be too someday.
Arians wasn’t far off. No, Joe doesn’t think Godwin will make the Hall of Fame. Injuries forced him to miss too much time. That doesn’t mean Godwin isn’t a stud.
But even these numbers surprised Joe. Since 2019, Arians’ first year with the Bucs, only two NFL receivers have a better catch percentage than Godwin. That’s Amon-Ra St. Brown with the Lions and Puka Nacua with the Rams.
But this continues: Godwin is also a beast with YAC since Arians took over the Bucs. Godwin is fifth since 2019 in YAC yards. Deebo Samuel, Cooper Kupp, Davante Adams and Ja’Marr Chase are the only four receivers who have more YAC since 2019.
That puts Godwin in some damn good company.
Toward the end of the season, Godwin showed some flashes of the old Godwin. After a full healthy offseason to prepare himself for the 2026 season, Joe suspects Godwin will be much more like the Godwin we fondly think of.
February 7th, 2026 at 12:57 am
These stats are extremely misleading. Going back to 2019?
SMDH. This is embarrassing even for the JOE’S.
Six years? In the NFL…what have you done for me lately.
Joe’s…not your best.
February 7th, 2026 at 1:28 am
Someone sustained a debilitating closed head injury.
February 7th, 2026 at 2:24 am
Just think… He’d be #1 in catch % had it not been for that broken thumb that caused him to drop a few more that he normally would’ve caught. There were a couple more this past season that I 💯 believe was just due to having a little rust. Stephen A. Smith was giving him hell that time he dropped those passes when Brady was here. I’m like, “yeah, you freaking MORON, he only has a BROKEN fricking THUMB… He RARELY EVER drops anything.” Period. Very few of these ‘national’ guys have ANY context or real in-depth knowledge of the Bucs (or most teams). They just spout-off a BUNCH of EMPTY BS. Then, a narrative begins, and they all just say the same things.
February 7th, 2026 at 2:29 am
With that said, it still doesn’t mean that I would’ve given HIM a 3-YEAR/$66-MILLION Contract with $44-MILLION of it 💯 FULLY, Completely GUARANTEED. Nor anything even close. Just DUMB AF. Love Him, but typical “Lickt-Move.”
February 7th, 2026 at 5:03 am
I love the contract we gave Godwin.
He deserves it.
He’s a legend on every level.
Greatest #2 WR in NFL history!
And over the next two seasons,
Mike Evans and Chris Godwin will move into 1st place in NFL history for greatest WR combo in NFL history!
February 7th, 2026 at 5:45 am
I think you squeeze one more season. Draft a receiver and get Kenny Pickens.
February 7th, 2026 at 5:46 am
Chris is another one of those guys who needs to be in a Bucs uniform until he retires.
Admittedly, the 3 year, $66M contract had me scratching my head just a bit… the timing of it given his injury and the unknowns as far as when he’d even be able to return, whether he’d be able to play as well as he did before, etc.
But, it keeps him in a Bucs uniform!
Some folks don’t think he’s worth the investment, saying he’s too injury prone and we’re investing too much money in him (and Mike). Money that could be spent elsewhere to shore up the team.
I disagree. Particularly on that last hit from what’s-his-name on the Ravens. (I remember his name. I won’t dignify him by saying it here.) That was a cheap shot that should have earned what’s-his-name a nice fine at a minimum and a good, long suspension (as far as I’m concerned). Any player who took that hit at that moment in time would’ve gone down the same way.
The money? Yeah, we’ve got a lot tied up in Chris and Mike. It’s a fair point for folks who say we should let one or both go. I still lean in the direction of keeping them.
For me, these numbers/stats just confirm what we’ve all seen with our own two eyes for the past few years…
Chris is a playmaker in his own right.
February 7th, 2026 at 6:02 am
Godwin has to be deeply depressed he didn’t sign with the Patriots.
February 7th, 2026 at 6:11 am
He would be on a HoF trajectory if it wasn’t for 2021 and 2024. He got 1st team all-pro in 2019 and those two preciously mentioned years he got injured halfway through while leading the league in 2/3 of the reciver leaders..catches, yards and stats. Those two injuries I genuinely believe took away a gold jacket