Chris Godwin Jr. is still doing what he’s always done best: catching the ball. The problem for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers is that they’re not turning those catches into the kind of production they should be getting from their top receiver.
Godwin is hauling in roughly three quarters of the passes thrown his way, but the numbers after the catch and down the field just aren’t there. He’s averaging only three receptions for 29 yards per game, and his 8.9 yards per catch is the lowest mark of his 10-year career. For a player who was once viewed as one of the league’s best No. 2 receivers and one of the better wideouts overall, that’s a steep drop.
The bigger issue, though, is how little the Buccaneers are doing to help him succeed. Offensive coordinator Zac Robinson, quarterback Baker Mayfield, and the organization as a whole aren’t putting Godwin in a better spot to do damage. Instead of leaning on their best receiver, especially when it comes to moving the chains, they’ve left him underused.
The passing numbers back that up. Tampa Bay quarterbacks have a 94.1 QB Rating when targeting Godwin, which is the second-best mark on the team, just behind Tez Johnson.
That comparison comes with a caveat, though, since Johnson’s numbers are boosted by his role as a player who benefits from deep targets. Godwin, meanwhile, is dealing with more defensive attention and tougher coverage, yet he still gives his quarterbacks a dependable option.
The rest of the target tree doesn’t look nearly as clean. The Buccaneers have a 64.7 QB Rating when throwing to Cade Otton, a 63.4 rating on passes to rookie Ted Hurst, and the worst number belongs to Emeka Egbuka at 60.6.
Even with the modest stat line, Godwin remains the offense’s most trustworthy target, and the Buccaneers need to treat him that way.
There’s also a clear sign that he’s creating much of his own production. His average depth of target is just 4.3 yards, with only the running backs behind him, but his 6.3 YAC average is better than that and ranks second only to the backs. That’s the profile of a receiver who can still make things happen if the ball gets to him in the right spots.
Right now, Tampa Bay and Baker Mayfield are leaving too much on the table by not feeding Godwin more often.
In Other News...
Bruce Arians Just Made Buccaneers Fans Revisit One Huge Possibility
Bruce Arians has been out of the Buccaneers sideline picture since retiring after the 2021 season, but he has not exactly closed the door on coaching again. After working through health issues that included open-heart surgery, Arians has said he feels ready to get back into the NFL if the right opportunity comes along, which is enough to get Tampa Bay fans thinking about old possibilities they probably assumed were gone for good.
The timing matters because Todd Bowles is reportedly under pressure and a coaching change is expected this offseason, putting the Buccaneers in a spot where every familiar name suddenly feels relevant again. Arians comments do not guarantee anything, but they do reopen a conversation that seemed settled, and for a franchise that has already lived through one dramatic coaching transition, that is the kind of thread worth watching. [Read more 🡒]
Tony Dungy Quietly Distances Himself From A Tampa Event
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Suh Just Revealed The Bucs Super Bowl LV Turning Point
Ndamukong Suh recently revisited the biggest night of the Buccaneers championship run, and the conversation offered a fresh look at how Tampa Bays defense found its edge against Kansas City in Super Bowl LV. On a podcast, Suh said he pushed then-defensive coordinator Todd Bowles to rethink the game plan, and the Bucs ended up leaning into a front that could dictate the terms of the matchup.
Suhs role in that shift was more than just motivational. He finished with 1.5 sacks as Tampa Bay kept the Chiefs out of the end zone in a 31-9 win, a result that has only grown more impressive with time. The interesting part now is how much of that title-clinching performance came down to a midgame-level adjustment in philosophy, and how willing Bowles was to trust a veteran defenders read in the sports biggest moment. [Read more 🡒]