Through seven games of the 2024 NFL season, Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin tallied 50 receptions for 576 yards and five touchdowns before suffering a season-ending ankle injury. As half of the two-headed receiving threat alongside veteran receiver Mike Evans, the Buccaneers now have a decision to make regarding the future of their receiver room.
Bucs Insider Sees Familiarity in Chris Godwin’s Situation
During an interview on “The Jay Recher Podcast”, Recher asked Greg Auman from Fox Sports about what he’s hearing from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers regarding Chris Godwin’s contract.
“I’ve kind of thought about the Chris Godwin negotiations like the Mike Evans negotiations maybe even friendlier. This is all Godwin has known. He was drafted in Tampa, played in Tampa, won a Super Bowl, got married, [had a] baby in Tampa, so lots of reasons he wants to stay. Coming off a major injury and the continuity of being in the same place, those all mean a lot to him.”
Godwin will head into the 2025 season after rehabbing the second major injury of his career. In 2021, Godwin tore his ACL and sprained his MCL that cut his season short. This offseason, Godwin is training to come back from an ankle dislocation he suffered in Week 7 against the Baltimore Ravens.
“That’s a big injury to come back from. He’s certainly shown that he can come back from major injuries before, but I think everything is going on course for them to work out a deal that keeps him here, right now, for probably just another two or three years,” said Auman. “I think he’s like Mike Evans; he wants to play his entire career in Tampa.”
Given the caliber of players of both Godwin and Evans, and the value and security they provide for quarterback Baker Mayfield, the front office will have to decide if they want to shell out the money to keep both on the roster for at least the next couple of years.
In eight seasons with the Buccaneers, the 2019 Pro Bowler and 2022 Comeback Player of the Year has amassed 579 catches for 7,266 yards and 39 receiving touchdowns.
“It’s tough for NFL teams to pay two wide receivers $20 million or more each, but I think the Bucs feel like Godwin adds a lot to this offense. Think about who he was the first eight games of 2024. He was a top-five receiver, period. He was [the team’s] best offensive player the first two months of the season, so it’s just a matter of how confident [the Bucs] are that he can get back to that and be the same Chris.”
