Bucs Storylines: What’s At Stake For Chris Godwin In 2024?

Let’s talk about Chris Godwin, shall we?

The more exciting periods of the Bucs offseason are over with, as pre-draft scouting, free agency, the NFL Draft, OTAs and mini-camps are over. That means it’s time to settle in for what feels like the longest of waits before training camp gets underway in late July.

The dog days of the NFL offseason are all about storylines for the upcoming season. Media and fans alike spend the days of June and July passing the time with discourse surrounding all sorts of rankings, as well as the big stories that are bound to come up when the season begins in September.

So, with that in mind, the idea here is to narrow in on some of the Bucs’ biggest stars and go player-by-player to dive into the big storylines that are in store for the 2024 season. After starting with quarterback Baker Mayfield and wide receiver Mike Evans, we move forward today with legendary Tampa Bay wide receiver Mike Evans.

Bucs Storylines: Chris Godwin

Here are three big storylines surrounding Bucs wide receiver Chris Godwin in 2024:

Will 2024 Be Chris Godwin’s Final Year With The Bucs?

Bucs WR Chris Godwin – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Entering 2024, there’s no bigger topic of conversation surrounding Godwin that’s bigger than his contract status and along with it, his future in Tampa Bay. Believe it or not, he’s set to begin his eighth year in the league, and of course to this point, he’s been a career Buc.

But this is the final year of the three-year contract he signed after the 2021 season, and given the team’s commitment to paying No. 1 receiver Mike Evans – which it did this offseason – it’s fair to question whether Godwin will get another extension from Jason Licht and Co. next spring. Can the Bucs afford to dole out $20 million-plus to two receivers next year?

It’s a question the team may not yet know the answer to. Evans will be 32 during the 2025 season, while Godwin will be 29. The two receivers are the best in Bucs history, and there’s no denying that. But will the team consider starting a refresh at the receiver position after the two team legends have led the way for so long? It’ll ultimately depend on what Godwin does this season. He may prove his worth and make it impossible for the Bucs brass to move on from him. Of course, the opposite could happen and a down year could make it easier for the team’s decision-makers to see a future without their 2017 third-round pick.

That’s why it’s notable that the Bucs are making Godwin play out the 2024 season as a contract year. Tampa Bay did the same thing with Evans last year, and Evans turned in one of the best seasons of his career and made another Pro Bowl. Will Godwin follow suit and put together a big year (say, another 1,000-yard season and more touchdowns… but more on that later), leading to a new contract in Tampa Bay? One thing is for sure, and it’s that Godwin can be relied on to be a consummate professional and a great captain and leader for the team the way he always has been. The future will work itself out eventually.

What Will A Move Back To The Slot Do For Chris Godwin?

Bucs WR Chris Godwin – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

When Bruce Arians took over as Bucs head coach in 2019, Godwin kicked inside and played the majority of his snaps from the slot. He took on a similar role to the one the legendary Larry Fitzgerald had when he played under Arians in Arizona. The move immediately led to the best season of Godwin’s career, as he caught 86 passes for a career-high 1,333 yards and nine touchdowns – also a career best.

That was the 2017 third-round pick’s lone Pro Bowl season in Tampa Bay, and he continued to reap the benefits of that slot role in 2020 (840 yards, seven touchdowns) and 2021 (1,103 yards, five touchdowns). And in 2022, even coming off the torn ACL/MCL in December 2021, Godwin put up another 1,000-yard season – though his touchdown total dipped to three.

Then, when Dave Canales replaced Byron Leftwich as the Bucs’ offensive coordinator in 2023, he had Godwin primarily line up outside. He still totaled 1,000 yards for the third straight season, but he scored just two touchdowns and wasn’t the engine of the offense the way he had been in the Arians/Leftwich system.

Chris Godwin’s Alignment Breakdown: Slot Snaps vs. Wide Snaps

2017: 87 slot, 340 wide
2018: 215 slot, 476 wide
2019: 518 slot, 349 wide
2020: 519 slot, 357 wide
2021: 509 slot, 303 wide
2022: 628 slot, 311 wide
2023: 335 slot, 655 wide

With Canales now gone to be the head coach in Carolina, Liam Coen is in as Tampa Bay’s new play-caller and he, along with new receivers coach Bryan McClendon, plan to move Godwin back to playing more snaps in the slot. So, what will that look like for the eighth-year receiver and what will the alignment split look like? McClendon spoke about Godwin’s versatility earlier this offseason and applauded his ability to do whatever the team asks of him. So with another versatile receiver in the room in rookie Jalen McMillan, Coen and McClendon have options.

But considering No. 14’s best football came from the slot, playing him inside more often in 2024 could lead to bigger production – which would be huge for both the offense and for Godwin himself in a contract year.

Can Chris Godwin Up His Touchdown Total And Extend His Own 1,000-Yard Season Streak?

Bucs WRs Chris Godwin and Mike Evans – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Even playing what was perceived as a lesser role last season while playing in Dave Canales’ offense, Godwin still managed to put together a third consecutive 1,000-yard campaign. It was the fourth 1,000-yard season of his career and while his three-year streak may seem minor compared to Mike Evans’ 10-year streak, the fact that he’s managed to cross that 1,000-yard threshold while being the No. 2 (or No. 1A) to Evans is impressive in its own right.

But as much intrigue as there is about Godwin trying to extend his streak to four years, it’s his touchdown output that he really needs to improve upon in 2024.

After totaling 21 touchdowns between 2019 and 2021, Godwin has just five in the last two seasons combined. He’s still tied with Jimmie Giles for the second-most receiving touchdowns in franchise history (34), but he hasn’t found the end zone with enough regularity these last two seasons. The move back to the slot could help bring the best out of him and help him find the end zone the way it did in his prime years under Bruce Arians. The Bucs are certainly hoping that’s the case, as the offense has been reliant on Evans being the lone touchdown producer over the last couple of years.

Evans only had six touchdowns in 2022, but with just three, Godwin wasn’t even No. 2 on the team. With five, that spot belonged to Russell Gage. Then, in 2023, Evans had 13 receiving scores and Godwin had just two, which was fewer than tight end Cade Otton (four), running back Rachaad White (three) and rookie receiver Trey Palmer (three). If Tampa Bay wants to take the next step offensively in 2024, it needs Godwin to kick it up a notch and be the No. 2 touchdown guy, perhaps with 5-7.

And, at risk of bringing up the contract year aspect of this whole thing a third time in three topics, more touchdown production in 2024 would only help Godwin next offseason. Whether he’s looking to re-sign with the Bucs or move on, 1,000-plus yards and six or seven touchdowns is sure to garner him a bigger contract than 1,000-plus yards and two or three scores – as simple as that may sound.

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