The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will be heading into the 2024 season with their heads held high after exceeding expectations last year with Baker Mayfield under center. The team made the second round of the NFL Playoffs and made sure to lock down the QB this offseason on a new deal. Another player who is looking for an extension is wide receiver Chris Godwin, who has been a key cog for the Bucs for a number of years now.
Godwin is heading into the final season of his $60 million deal, but it appears talks between the two sides about a new contract haven't started because the Buccaneers want to see how he performs playing inside in 24′.
Via ESPN:
“Godwin is entering the third and final year of a $60 million deal with the Bucs, and sources close to the situation told ESPN that talks on an extension have not started. The Bucs will want to see how he performs in Liam Coen's offense moving back to the inside, where Godwin saw a heavy amount of production in Bruce Arians' offense.
Last year in Dave Canales' offense, Godwin lined up mostly outside and had some very quiet games before moving back inside. Despite the shuffling around and suffering a torn right ACL in Week 15 in 2021, Godwin amassed 1,023 and 1,024 receiving yards in 2022 and 2023.”
Can Chris Godwin perform for Buccaneers?
Godwin has been a consistent contributor in his seven-year tenure with Tampa. In the last three seasons, he's surpassed the 1,000-yard receiving mark. That's despite tearing his ACL late in the 2021 campaign.
The Buccaneers have a new offensive coordinator, so it makes sense why the organization wants to see how Godwin fares under Coen. But, as head coach Todd Bowles said, he knows Godwin can thrive in more ways than one:
“He's an inside guy by nature. He can play outside. But he can make a living inside doing a bunch of things for us. We plan to let him do a lot of things that he does best,” Tampa Bay coach Todd Bowles said. “He was coming off the injury last year, so I don't know if he was at full tilt inside or outside. But he looks a lot quicker, a lot lighter, and he's healthier now.”
The Buccaneers drafted Jalen McMillan in April, who is seen as a potential replacement for Chris Godwin. That being said, it would be foolish for Tampa Bay to let him walk next offseason.
Godwin has a minimum of 65 catches in each of the last five seasons, even reeling in 104 in the 22′ season. Overall, he has 34 touchdowns, with a career-high nine in 2019. Alongside Mike Evans, the former Penn State standout is a legitimate weapon for the Bucs, no matter who is playing quarterback.
In order to lock down a new deal, all Godwin has to do is perform at the level he's used to. It's doubtful the Bucs actually want to lose him because to be brutally honest, it's hard to find receivers who put up numbers year in and year out.
Those don't come around every day.
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