Injuries impacted their season but the Tampa Bay Buccaneers had a very strong 2024 campaign and look set to continue to be a playoff contender for the foreseeable future. However, with Mike Evans getting up there in age and Chris Godwin approaching free agency, the team may look to improve its wide receiver room.
That is where the 2025 NFL Draft comes in, as one analyst believes the team should use an early draft pick on a wideout. With Godwin’s future up in the air, one analyst has a certain receiver in mind who could help the Bucs should he leave (or provide depth behind Evans, Godwin, and Jalen McMillan if he’s back).
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Predicted To Find Chris Godwin Replacement
Even with Godwin missing the second half of the season due to a dislocated ankle, the Buccaneers were able to sustain the third-ranked offense in the league, per PFSN’s Offense+ metric. Largely due to a star-caliber season from quarterback Baker Mayfield plus a much-improved rushing attack thanks to strong offensive line play and the emergence of rookie Bucky Irving, the offense didn’t miss a beat despite injuries to key players.
However, Godwin’s injury puts the team in a precarious position. A season-ending ankle injury just three seasons after tearing his ACL has taken a toll on the superstar receiver. But he’s also up for a new contract, so the Bucs must decide if they are willing to give him the lucrative payday he’ll be seeking.
Godwin is the No. 4-ranked free agent in PFSN’s Top 100 Free Agent Rankings, and there are plenty of WR-needy teams that could use his services. However, there are rumors surfacing that Godwin might be back on a team-friendly deal because he wants to play his entire career in Tampa Bay.
In PFSN’s latest 2025 NFL mock draft, Joe DeLeone has a solution for Tampa Bay that may work out in the short and long term. The Bucs could use some wide receiver depth and, even if Godwin is back, he won’t be in Tampa Bay forever. In the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft, DeLeone has the Buccaneers drafting Ole Miss wide receiver Tre Harris, who can provide depth now and then take over Godwin’s role down the road.
Here’s what DeLeone wrote about the Buccaneers selecting Harris with the No. 83 overall pick in this year’s draft: “Tre Harris was on a ridiculous production pace before his season was impacted by injuries. Depending on what plays out with Chris Godwin, Tre Harris can slide into his role in the future.”
Through eight games, Harris was already up to 1,030 yards and seven touchdowns on the season, including a 225-yard explosion against the Georgia Southern Eagles. However, injuries derailed his season as well.
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Harris spent his first three seasons playing for Louisiana Tech before transferring to Ole Miss. He finished his five-year collegiate career with 220 receptions for 3,532 receiving yards and 29 touchdowns.
The only thing the Bucs might be wary of is replacing Godwin with another player who has a significant injury history. But from a pure talent perspective, Harris to Tampa Bay makes a lot of sense, giving Mayfield another weapon this season and in the long run.
