The Tampa Bay Buccaneers were pleased to see Chris Godwin become a prominent member of the offense in 2019 and it appears Pro Football Focus is too. After a breakout campaign, PFF graded Godwin as the best wide receiver in 2019.
When naming the best wide receivers in the NFL, most people would list Julio Jones, DeAndre Hopkins, Michael Thomas, or Davante Adams. Even though he may not be on the same level as those guys yet, Godwin flashed his potential moving forward this past season.
In his first season with Bruce Arians as his head coach, Godwin tallied 86 receptions for 1,333 yards and nine touchdowns. Despite having Mike Evans steal targets from him, Godwin still posted career-highs across the board in 2019.
With the Buccaneers running an offense that is dependent on big plays, Godwin averaged a career-best 15.5 yards per reception. The most impressive part is that those numbers came with Godwin missing the final two weeks of the season due to a hamstring injury.
Therefore, there's no telling what his stats would've looked like had he played all 16 games. At the same time, it remains to be seen who will be throwing him the ball in 2020, with Jameis Winston headed to free agency. Nevertheless, the former third-round pick out of Penn State appears to be ascending into the conversation of best receivers in the NFL.
This upcoming season, Godwin is entering the final year of his rookie contract. If he puts together another season like 2019, it's safe to assume he could become one of the highest-paid receivers in the NFL in 2021.