After battling through multiple injuries in 2023, Buccaneers receiver Chris Godwin is SO BACK. He leads the NFL in receptions, yards after the catch, and is tied for first in touchdowns while the Buccaneers put together one of the better offenses in the league through six weeks. With Godwin healthy, he’s showing why he’s one of my favorite receivers in the league as well as one of the best number two receivers a McVay-style offense has seen in a while.
With WR Mike Evans being on the team, Godwin operates underneath, giving the Buccaneers’ offense layers. Now, with these layers, Godwin is faced with the daunting task of creating after the catch. Among the top ten receivers in targets per SIS, Godwin has the second lowest Average Depth of Target behind New York’s Wan’Dale Robinson. Yet, a healthy Godwin makes so much of a difference because he takes these short targets and converts them into first downs or explosive plays. Despite having the second lowest aDOT, Godwin has the highest First Down Rate among the top ten target leaders in the NFL and is well ahead of the pack in Positive Play Rate.
Godwin is listed at 6’1 and 209 pounds, but he plays so much bigger and stronger than that. This is what allows him to be so good after the catch and still keep the Bucs offense on track. Against the Saints, QB Baker Mayfield was flat out off. He was missing targets in the middle of the field and threw three interceptions in the second quarter. Rather than letting Mayfield unravel himself by continuing to throw downfield, Tampa Bay went to making the quick throws and run game, letting guys like Godwin keep this offense on track. Last year’s Chris Godwin was fighting through injuries, but this year’s Godwin is doing this on underneath routes. He goes in jet motion, and nothing is open downfield. Mayfield checks it down to Godwin and he simply introduces CB Paulson Adebo to the ground, turning this short pass into a big gain.
He does the same thing on his big touchdown, where he pinballs off of basically the entire Saints’ defense en route to the end zone. With Godwin being able to do this and Evans still being one of the best vertical threats in the league, this offense has so many ways to beat you. It’s the exact same play, but watching Godwin bounce off of the defense is such a cool way to start your day.
In the red zone, Godwin takes a backseat to Mike Evans, the fade route king, but his strength shows up in this area, creating separation and fighting through contact on in-breaking routes. His other TD on the day came on a slant in the red zone, another play where he goes in motion. Godwin sets up the corner to the outside, then breaks back in before Mayfield fires in a dart for six.
Above all else, what makes Godwin one of my favorite receivers to watch is the fact that he BLOCKS HIS ASS OFF. Receivers that are good and willing to block have a special place in my football lore, and Godwin is one of the best blocking receivers in the league. On Tampa’s duo runs, they’ll bring Godwin tight to the line of scrimmage, where he digs out safeties and nickel corners who get too nosy in the run game. Bucky Irving almost scores on this run, because RT Luke Goedeke and Godwin create this wide open gap. This is how you get on the field as a receiver, and stay there. No block, no rock baby!
Tampa has another big matchup coming up, going against the machine that is the Baltimore Ravens, but with a healthy and fired-up Godwin Tampa Bay can really make this game interesting.
