
Greg Auman
NFC South Reporter
The Bucs are on their third offensive coordinator in three years, however of all of the wrinkles forward in Liam Coen’s new scheme, one which has generated actual pleasure is that receiver Chris Godwin can be primarily transferring again into the slot — into the position Cooper Kupp performed in the identical offense when Coen was with the Rams.
Kupp had among the finest seasons in NFL historical past in 2021, successful the receiving triple crown by main the league with 145 catches for 1,947 yards and 16 touchdowns, so there is a curiosity for Bucs followers — and fantasy soccer gamers — across the prospect that Godwin could possibly be in for enormous numbers in a 2024 contract yr.
“The pliability of being inside permits me to get extra inventive,” Godwin mentioned Tuesday after the primary OTA follow of the Bucs’ offseason. “It permits me to be extra concerned within the run sport with out it being so apparent. It permits different guys to have the ability to transfer round a bunch as effectively. That appears to be a part of the emphasis of the offense, permitting guys to be versatile and play in no matter spots we must be.”
Godwin, nonetheless solely 28, has put collectively fairly a seven-year run in Tampa alongside Mike Evans. Evans’ streak of 10 straight 1,000-yard seasons and his 94 touchdowns have helped him to 5 Professional Bowls, however Godwin is quietly No. 2 in Bucs historical past in catches (529), yards (6,690) and touchdowns (34, tied for second-most ever). Godwin has topped 1,000 yards in three straight seasons regardless of a torn ACL in the midst of that run, recovering shortly from the Dec. 2021 damage.
That damage performed a task in him transferring towards extra snaps exterior, away from the heavy visitors and potential collisions in the midst of the sector, and he performed all 17 video games final yr, his first time not lacking any video games since 2018. Now the Bucs are operating a reverse, shifting him again inside the place his shiftiness and constant fingers — a 70 p.c catch charge over his NFL profession — may result in massive numbers.
“He is an inside man by nature,” coach Todd Bowles mentioned Tuesday. “He can play exterior, however he could make a dwelling inside doing a bunch of issues for us. We plan to let him do plenty of issues that he does finest. He was coming off the damage final yr, so I do not know if he was at full tilt inside or exterior, however he seems lots faster, lots lighter, and he is more healthy now. He is wanting to study and get the offense down, so we’re simply excited to have him out on the sector.”
Godwin is taking part in the ultimate yr of a three-year, $60 million extension he signed in 2022. A yr in the past, he was the one Bucs participant making $20 million a yr or extra, however now there are three extra — Evans, quarterback Baker Mayfield and security Antoine Winfield — with sort out Tristan Wirfs seemingly becoming a member of that group quickly. Having Godwin in a contract yr can be tough; the Bucs have lengthy seen the worth in paying two top-tier receivers, however won’t have the ability to sustain with the market worth of different groups who may see him as a No. 1.
Receivers are sometimes seen as divas, necessitating trades and motion to a number of groups. Evans and Godwin are the exceptions, staying in a single place not solely due to their constant play however their management and unselfishness.
“Me and Mike, I really feel like we are the final professionals,” Godwin mentioned. “We are available, we deal with our enterprise. We perceive the off-the-field stuff, there is a enterprise component there, too, and also you sort of must let that care for itself. We’re each guys that take pleasure in what we do. We benefit from the people who we work with. I am grateful to be right here, grateful to be out right here placing the work in.”
Anticipate Baker and the Bucs to be higher subsequent season?

One space the place Godwin will help himself on his subsequent deal is getting again into the tip zone extra usually. His lone Professional Bowl season got here in 2019 when he led the Bucs not solely in catches and yards however with 9 touchdowns. In 4 seasons since, he is caught seven, 5, three and two, so discovering a reference to Mayfield close to the purpose line is a precedence this yr.
“For certain, I will be actually thrilled about that,” Godwin mentioned. “It’ll come all the way down to execution, simply having extra alternatives as we get near the pink zone. Additionally, on my half, simply doing my finest to capitalize on the alternatives I get exterior the pink zone.”
The Bucs used a third-round decide in April on Washington’s Jalen McMillan, who may step in as their new No. 3 receiver, competing with second-year professional Trey Palmer. McMillan may present sufficient to provide the Bucs confidence they’d be OK if Godwin signed elsewhere, however for now they’re grateful to have a constant presence and one other mannequin for his or her younger depth at receiver.
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“(Godwin) is an outstanding particular person, an exceptional participant, a terrific instance to this complete workforce,” normal supervisor Jason Licht mentioned. “You recognize, you simply you virtually take him without any consideration, he is there day by day working his (butt) off. He got here again from a brutal damage and got here again sooner than everyone anticipated. You recognize, he is simply Mr. Consistency.”
Godwin echoed that Tuesday, saying as a lot as has modified round him in transitioning from Tom Brady to Mayfield, in three offenses and totally different roles in every, he is tried to be the identical participant and particular person alongside the best way.
“For me, it is all the time been about consistency,” he mentioned. “Quietly, I do not know if many individuals would comprehend it, I’ve had my very own streak of 1,000 yards with three, together with the yr I received damage. I do not suppose that is one thing that is simple to do. I am proud about that, as a result of it speaks to my stage of professionalism, having the ability to work by adversity, but in addition in my teammates and my coaches’ perception in me to have the ability to exit and make the performs. I am lucky to be right here, grateful to do what I really like.”
Greg Auman is FOX Sports activities’ NFC South reporter, masking the Buccaneers, Falcons, Panthers and Saints. He’s in his tenth season masking the Bucs and the NFL full-time, having hung out on the Tampa Bay Instances and The Athletic. You may comply with him on Twitter at @gregauman.

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