Don’t Bet Against Chris Godwin
May 4th, 2026
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BY IRA KAUFMAN
Given all the hoopla surrounding Tampa Bay’s incoming draft class, it’s easy to forget about the significance of the longest-tenured Buccaneer.
If new coordinator Zac Robinson intends to resurrect a struggling offense, he needs to maximize the impact of Chris Godwin operating out of the slot, where he has thrived for much of his career since being selected in the third round of the 2017 draft.
The departure of Mike Evans leaves a glaring leadership and experience void at wide receiver, where Godwin is surrounded by youngsters Emeka Egbuka, Jalen McMillan, Tez Johnson and rookie Ted Hurst. Godwin has the gravitas, the knowledge and the willingness to teach the rest of this group how to be a pro.
This is a huge season for Godwin and the Bucs. If things go south, ownership may be tempted to initiate a rebuilding program. Players like Godwin and Vita Vea may not fit into that plan.
A flurry of injuries have dogged Godwin since his arrival at One Buc Place.
Hamstring
Fractured index finger
Torn ACL
Sprained MCL
Dislocated ankle
Hairline fracture of the fibula
That last setback cost Godwin five games last season after a few lost to the healing ankle, but the Bucs are buoyed by the way he closed out the year.
When healthy, Godwin excels at the tough, contested catches over the middle. His focus is exemplary, knowing he’s going to absorb considerable contact on most receptions.
That’s a difficult role to fill for any offense and Robinson would be foolish to limit Godwin’s touches. He’s been proficient with yards after the catch and Godwin ranks second to Evans in career catches, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns for a franchise that has been around for a half-century. Godwin’s peers have twice voted him one of the league’s top 100 players.
Hall of Famer Larry Fitzgerald made it a point to congratulate Godwin after a game against Arizona.
“I love the way you play,” Fitzgerald told Godwin. “I love the way you compete.”
Let’s remember that before Godwin suffered a devastating 2024 knee injury against Baltimore in Week 7, he was leading the NFL with 50 catches and averaging 82 receiving yards per game. Is it a coincidence that injury triggered a 4-game losing streak after a 4-2 start?
In the five years Godwin has made more than five starts, he has posted four 1,000-yard seasons. That’s why Jason Licht slapped him with the franchise tag on two occasions and gave Godwin a 3-year extension in March of 2025.
Godwin does the dirty work without complaint. A return to form would go a long way toward returning this attack to the 2024 level achieved under Liam Coen.
Licht has done his best to keep Godwin from testing the free-agent market. That stance could change if Godwin suffers another significant injury or fails to approach his prior production when healthy.
Evans left his heart and his legacy behind when he headed to San Francisco, but Godwin’s still here, determined to reward the front office and coaching staff for their faith in him. He’s been through a lot, but he’s a player Buc fans root hard for.
Nobody mentions Godwin’s name any longer when ranking the league’s premier receivers. He’s been on that list before — and you’d be a fool to bet against him this time around.
May 4th, 2026 at 8:59 am
Zac needs to commit to running the ball…that will open up things for Godwin underneath…
Godwin was banged up all year..looking for him to bounce back in a huge way!!!
GO BUCS!!!!
May 4th, 2026 at 9:25 am
Love Chris but he’s got a hell of a lot of mileage on his body. But he’s crucial to the success of this offense this year, especially with Evans gone. I hope he’s up to the task.
May 4th, 2026 at 9:33 am
Excellent piece, Ira. Don’t sleep on Chris.
May 4th, 2026 at 10:20 am
Chris is probably quietly asking his agent to get a deal made with the Niners so he can go play for a real head coach and rejoin Mikey. Can’t blame him.
May 4th, 2026 at 10:49 am
28.Evans Says:
May 4th, 2026 at 10:20 am
Chris is probably quietly asking his agent to get a deal made with the Niners so he can go play for a real head coach and rejoin Mikey. Can’t blame him.
Can you please go to the niners with Mikey?
You truly don’t like the Bucs. Even when you were called Aqua turd, you still had the same rhetoric every day.
May 4th, 2026 at 11:53 am
“Don’t bet against the injury prone guy with reconstructed ankles and knees”
LOL OK.
May 4th, 2026 at 12:06 pm
Egbuka is going to make or break this WR core. He’s the 1st rounder and has to make people forget about Evans. Godwin needs to stay healthy and be a decent complimentary player in the slot. McMillan was over hyped from day one and that was before Bridgewater tanked his season with a boneheaded throw. They guy broke his neck and herniated disks.
You know when Bowles lost the team last year? When Bridge stepped in for a half and everyone saw that he was a clown. That told everyone what was needed to be known – Bowles put himself before the team’s interests by pulling a washed up has been off the couch to replace Trask – just because he didn’t like the criticism about the fake QB competition.
How do you fix that? You don’t, but the Glazers already extended him and that contract became a sunk cost. That’s why Evans left. I hope Trask wins the Job in Atlanta and comes in here and humiliates Bowles. He effing deserves it and so do the Glazers for writing off however many seasons they choose to ride this sinking ship before they want to spend on the next coach.
May 4th, 2026 at 12:12 pm
Licht, Bowles, and Baker know exactly how good Chris is. And how important he is as a leader on this team. And, Ira knows, too. That same group of 4 also knows how good our Offensive Line is. Hopefully we get an Ira article on them soon. I’m just flabbergasted that the majority of our readers don’t understand what the receivers and OLine having zero continuity meant to our team last year. From day one. We have spent the last 3 years showing flashes of the quality of team that we’ve rebuilt entirely since 2022, and proven we CAN beat anyone. This team, after a few weeks of playing together, has a chance to be really, really strong. Chris Godwin is a great player and we’re looking like the favorites to be the team that nobody is looking forward to playing and I ain’t whistling Dixie.
May 4th, 2026 at 12:38 pm
If he does get his body right, I have no doubt he still has it.
I really think he was on his way to a triple crown the year he got hurt.
Nobody in their right mind should doubt this TRUE PRO.
I for one am obviously pulling for the elite Chris Godwin.
May 4th, 2026 at 1:00 pm
One of if not my favorite Buc ever. Only player have two jerseys of. Chris should be a Captain on the offense. He will ball out this year!
May 4th, 2026 at 1:44 pm
He and Jmac were the best WR the last couple of weeks. Larry is right, not many compete like Chris.
Evans never came close to matching Godwins 2024 season and was only better than Chris in the red zone for obvious reasons. Godwin is the most talented receiver in Bucs history.
May 4th, 2026 at 1:44 pm
Love this guy. Perfectly said ira. He’s does the dirty work without complaint and before his ankle injury he was straight up balling. Leading the nfl. Huge ME13 fan but Godwin closing out last season strong and the other WRs we have is why I’m not to down on like Joe says we took a step back losing him. This WR room will take everyone to step up to replace him by committee and it starts with Godwin. He’s heathy we will be dam fine. Zac is an upgrade over grizz and if we get back to the offense that coen led we will win a lot of games.
May 4th, 2026 at 2:01 pm
“Is it a coincidence that injury triggered a 4-game losing streak after a 4-2 start?”
Nope, just proof that when you’re biggest difference makers aren’t on the field you’re not making much of a difference as a team. We’ve seen what losing Chris has done to Brady & Bakers’ games respectively.
May 4th, 2026 at 2:20 pm
MostlyPeacefulTraskMob Says:
May 4th, 2026 at 12:06 pm
Egbuka is going to make or break this WR core. He’s the 1st rounder and has to make people forget about Evans. Godwin needs to stay healthy and be a decent complimentary player in the slot. McMillan was over hyped from day one and that was before Bridgewater tanked his season with a boneheaded throw. They guy broke his neck and herniated disks.
You know when Bowles lost the team last year? When Bridge stepped in for a half and everyone saw that he was a clown. That told everyone what was needed to be known – Bowles put himself before the team’s interests by pulling a washed up has been off the couch to replace Trask – just because he didn’t like the criticism about the fake QB competition.
How do you fix that? You don’t, but the Glazers already extended him and that contract became a sunk cost. That’s why Evans left. I hope Trask wins the Job in Atlanta and comes in here and humiliates Bowles. He effing deserves it and so do the Glazers for writing off however many seasons they choose to ride this sinking ship before they want to spend on the next coach
you have lost all credibility, hoping that another player comes in and beat us? You truly are a moron. Sounds like an Atlanta should be your team. Don’t let the door hitch in the ass on the way out.!!
May 4th, 2026 at 2:25 pm
“They’re sticking with Bowles!!!” – A gleeful Ira Kaufman
May 4th, 2026 at 3:27 pm
Godwin will be much better in 2026 as he’s another year removed from his latest serious injury.
May 4th, 2026 at 3:55 pm
Glad to have Chris around as a player and mentor. And glad to have EE, J-mac, and Tez competing for targets…..and compete they will. EE is trying to prove he’s 1st round worthy – and live up to the hype from the 1st half of last year. J-mac and EE competed in 7 on 7 and believes he’s just as good as EE and will be looking to prove it this year. Tez is trying to establish himself as a legit WR threat, not just a gadget guy.
Our WR room is talented…even before we got Hurst….they just need an effective OC and good QB play.
May 4th, 2026 at 3:55 pm
WBL- with out Chris the last 9 games of 2024 Baker led the NFL in yards and TD passes. Hmm. You haven’t got enough sense to see what hurt Baker and Bowles in 2025 was no JMac, Godwin, Evans, Mauch, Bredeson, Wirfs, etc. etc? Surely you’ve got enough sense to see that.
May 4th, 2026 at 4:21 pm
People still talking about Trask bwahahahaha come on now, that dog don’t hunt. Trask was a bust and no one in their right mind expects him to start anywhere, let alone if he can even make a roster
May 4th, 2026 at 4:29 pm
Before the injuries he was better and more important than Evans. Evans fans will never agree but I bet if you made Brady tell the truth, Godwin was every bit as important in his decision to come here. He was our Edelman.
May 4th, 2026 at 5:11 pm
“WBL- with out Chris the last 9 games of 2024 Baker led the NFL in yards and TD passes. Hmm. You haven’t got enough sense to see what hurt Baker and Bowles in 2025 was no JMac, Godwin, Evans, Mauch, Bredeson, Wirfs, etc. etc? Surely you’ve got enough sense to see that.“
After we had the bye week to re-adjust in 2024? Question, after the ‘24 Ravens game, how’d that pass game work out immediately after? Wasn’t that the start of a mid season slide?
May 4th, 2026 at 5:11 pm
Pom Pom Polly 99 motivates more commentary.
Keep it up fatty.
May 4th, 2026 at 5:26 pm
WBL. We lost Evans for 4 or 5 games after that same Ravens game where Chris was lost for the season. Don’t you remember Evans dropping a perfect touchdown pass and instead of a 17-0 lead we watched Mike hobbling off? As he oftentimes left the field after a catch whether or not he had gone lame. I remember that game too. Henry ran all over us and Lamar looked like the best QB in the history of the game. Can’t afford to let a team get back up after you’ve knocked them down.
May 4th, 2026 at 5:41 pm
Love Evans but was honestly a bit tired of seeing him limp off the field after every single catch with that grimace / frustrated look. Never understood that. You’re either hurt or not – then he’s right back out there. Thought you were hurt!?
With that, Mike was a beast and thrilled to have had him here – in his prime. Wish him well, unless he’s on our field.
Chris is just steady and strong. No frustration, no breaks, all gas.
May 4th, 2026 at 5:42 pm
3.28.Evans ask your girl if she likes the fatty
May 4th, 2026 at 6:32 pm
Healthy O-Line is the key. Godwin succeeds, running game succeeds, new OC succeeds……ONLY with a healthy O-Line.
May 4th, 2026 at 6:52 pm
#99 The Big Fella
Lol 😂
Hims in bad mood today 😔😡😭.
The balance of pom pom waivers to poop slingers is not to hims wittle wiking… Poor baby 🍼
May 4th, 2026 at 7:22 pm
Who’s WR 1 and 2?
Ebuka WR1 or 2?
Hurst and EE?
Mcmillian?
Just curious what peeps think on the matter.
May 4th, 2026 at 7:30 pm
Remember that it was 100% Bowles’ fault he dislocated his ankle in 24, covering kicks in garbage time
May 4th, 2026 at 7:32 pm
My bad, not kick coverage. Doesn’t matter though.
May 4th, 2026 at 7:57 pm
“the longest-tenured Buccaneer”
__________________________________
Pretty crazy, huh? A year ago we had 12-year and 14-year Buc vets in Evans and David. Heck even Will Gholston was an 11-year vet… Now Godwin is the oldest Buc at 9 years (going into his 10th)? Crazy.
May 4th, 2026 at 8:08 pm
Jack Says:
May 4th, 2026 at 6:52 pm
#99 The Big Fella
Lol 😂
Hims in bad mood today 😔😡😭.
The balance of pom pom waivers to poop slingers is not to hims wittle wiking… Poor baby 🍼
lol He really is a loser🤡 His girl is done with him since she had the fatty. 🫷🏻
May 4th, 2026 at 9:38 pm
The two years Godwin went down with season ending injuries. He was on track for 1st team All-Pro. Which would have him at three