Chris Godwin = Exceptionalism
February 7th, 2026
Chris Godwin is as dependable as they come.
Joe admits to being 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.
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 had moldedt: Larry Fitzgerald and Hines Ward.
Fitzgerald just got elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. And Ward likely will be 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 Godwin numbers surprised Joe. Since 2019, Arians’ first Bucs season, 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. Godwin ranks 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 damn good company.
Toward the end of the season, Godwin showed 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
February 7th, 2026 at 6:48 am
Half Sac
Nice stats.
Chris Godwin is an exceptional human being and WR on every level.
Anyone who speaks against Godwin is a traitor and a hater.
Walk the plank fake fans!
February 7th, 2026 at 7:02 am
I hope he stays healthy, because he’s one more major injury away from having to hang it up.
February 7th, 2026 at 7:55 am
The Bucs have an excellent collection of Receivers and if Godwin can stay healthy for 5 years, he may have a shot at HOF.
It would be a shame to waste all the Bucs’ offensive weapons and settle for a patchwork, knee injured “hope” they come back OLine.
Remember “hoping” for the Bucs’ Super Bowl Center to come back….?
February 7th, 2026 at 8:22 am
Melvin. Hindsight is well, you know……20/20?
February 7th, 2026 at 8:47 am
@ Teacherman: “Greatest #2 WR in NFL history!”
See John Stallworth of Pittsburgh fame.
February 7th, 2026 at 9:03 am
Godwin wasn’t the only disappointment last season.
Make a list of the top ten highest paid Buc players and try to name one that had a “good” season…
LVD – nope
Evans – nope
Godwin – nope
Baker – nope
Wirfs – nope
Winfield – nope
McCullum – HAHAHAHAHA!
Reddick – HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
Dean – played ok
Goedeke – nope
Vea – ok but not good
We can’t continue getting poor production out of this group of players.
The Bucs are wasting valuable resources on poorly performing assets…
If this continues the Bucs will remain a below average team.
February 7th, 2026 at 9:22 am
Marine Buc. Sam Darnold had 25 TD passes this year. Less TD passes than Baker. Oh yeah, he also threw more interceptions than Baker this year. Baker was a poorly performing asset. In what world are you living in Marine Buc?
February 7th, 2026 at 10:53 am
Hey Kunton – remember when you called me a re-tard because I let you know the Bucs would NOT win 9 games?
Have a nice day…
LOL!!!
February 7th, 2026 at 10:54 am
Baker Mayfield is the most mediocre QB to ever play in the NFL…
Get over it.
February 7th, 2026 at 11:01 am
Marine Buc Says:
February 7th, 2026 at 10:54 am
Baker Mayfield is the most mediocre QB to ever play in the NFL…
Get over it.
===================================
Marine Buc,
You are proof that posters here can say moronic things just because ,well, you are a moron. Mayfield has had a great 3 years statistcally with a very poorly coached team.
February 7th, 2026 at 11:04 am
When healthy not only is Godwin a beast he’s almost guaranteed to make the catch. It was so frustrating when fans were hating on us retaining him. He earned it and gave us a discount. Now that he’s back to being healthy he will put up monster numbers like he did before the crows took him out. He was straight balling before that. He just keeps getting better with age. Excited to see what he does next season.
February 7th, 2026 at 11:05 am
@ Gipper
Baker Mayfield is so good our “ring of honor” GM is only paying $33M per season…
You Baker bois are all the same.
Sad and pathetic – willing to accept mediocrity while expecting play-off wins.
You and Kunton are total jokes.
February 7th, 2026 at 11:09 am
This fricken site is over ran with trolls.
Not even remotely entertaining anymore.
Got to be the worse fan base in sports.
I truly hope the bucs load up on defense in this draft and trade for a pass rusher
I hope we do really well next season so these damn trolls can eat their words.
February 7th, 2026 at 11:11 am
@Marine Buc. That’s a sad display of suck and you could have kept going. Throw in the HC, DC, OC, and ST coaches and it’s no wonder we couldn’t get to the playoffs. Is it a player issue or bad coaching? Obviously, injuries are a factor, but we get those every year. Is it time to trade them away for draft picks and start fresh or can the coaches and GM? Clearly, some fresh energy needs to be infused. We can’t keep embarrassing ourselves on every national stage. Can the half measure approach we’ve been seeing possibly turn this team around or is it time for the complete rebuild? It looks like the offense is not far away from being a complete unit with some adequate backups but the defense needs 7 or 8 NFL players just to compete. Licht has missed on nearly every top defender he’s picked in the last 5 years.
It’s time for new blood. How to go about it is the question.
February 7th, 2026 at 11:14 am
Baker Mayfield is so good he is one of the lowest paid QBs in the entire NFL who is not still on their rookie deal…
HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
February 7th, 2026 at 11:18 am
Marine Buc Says:
February 7th, 2026 at 10:54 am
Baker Mayfield is the most mediocre QB to ever play in the NFL…
Get over it.
_____________________
Okay, credibility was iffy already… now fully toast. Dumb take.
Another dumb take? The one above it.
Most everyone on your “list” was injured last year. If most of us recall the 2025 season, that just happened, there were a lot of injuries. Of course you’re not fully earning your paycheck if you’re hurt, but it doesn’t reflect your skill level. And most of those injuries couldn’t be helped.
And Dean, he played amazingly for his money considering he took a pay cut.
February 7th, 2026 at 11:20 am
@ KA
Baker Mayfield is so good he is one of the lowest paid QBs in the entire NFL who is not still on their rookie deal…
HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
Does KA stand for kiss AZZ?
February 7th, 2026 at 11:21 am
Marine Buc. I was just messing with you. If Mayfield had a good season we’d of dang sure won 10 games. You saw the tank coming sooner than most of us did. I’m watching your posts with due respect. Have a nice day too and enjoy the Super Bowl this weekend. With the favorite being the team Mr. Mediocre hung 38 points on. And the underdog being the team Mr. Mediocre threw 3 TD passes and had Zero turnovers against. Sorry Marine Suc, I had to get that in there. You know, calling me Kunton and all.
February 7th, 2026 at 11:58 am
The Glazers have really pulled the wool over the the fans and media’s eyes. All this offensive talk about the OC, WRs, Baker..zero talk about Bowles defense, his complex scheme, changes to his staff..nothing will change. Folks will place blame on JL, the OC, Baker, the food and beverage staff..anything to deflect attention where it really is needed.
There will be new players added to the defense, once again and those players will continue to look lost in Bowles complex scheme to is only confusing to it’s own players and opposing OCs and QBs easily move the ball..even when behind the chains, like say..3rd and 28.
February 7th, 2026 at 12:31 pm
CG14 was on his way to his greatest statistical season in 2024 when he was badly hurt by an illegal Roquan Smith hip-drop tackle. Have a feeling that CH14 feels very positive about Mayfield as his QB. Somehow I think what CG14 has to say is more important that what The Munch Bunch and its new spokesperson, MarineBuc, might say. What about it MarineBuc, do you know more about Mayfield than CG14?
February 7th, 2026 at 4:34 pm
@ Kunton
LOL!
No worries bud.
Have a fun SB Sunday…