The Kansas City Chiefs may still be linked to Tyreek Hill, but the conversation around their receiver help is starting to widen.
Reports over the past couple of months have pointed to Kansas City as a possible destination for Hill, though his NFL future is still murky because of off-the-field issues. Even with that in the background, the bigger picture for the Chiefs appears to be their need to add another pass catcher, whether Hill is in the mix or not.
That’s why the latest chatter connecting the Chiefs to Tampa Bay Buccaneers wideout Chris Godwin fits. Kansas City has looked like one of the best teams in football to open the season, maybe only behind the San Francisco 49ers, and it clearly has a legitimate Super Bowl path. But even with that kind of start, the receiver room remains a question.
“Chiefs - Buccaneers WR Chris Godwin: How much of his decline is due to the fact the Bucs haven’t been able to push the ball downfield for years and Baker Mayfield was not good or healthy least year and same thing this year? And the loss of Mike Evans has set Tampa’s pass game back?
“The Chiefs likely need more than one roll of the dice at the receiver position given all their issues there, and lack of another playmaker was a concern even before the season began. "Even if they sign (free agent WR Tyreek) Hill, Andy (Reid) is going to want to do something else," said an NFL exec who knows Reid well and used to work with him,” Jason La Canfora wrote.
Godwin has been a reliable player for a long stretch of his career, though injuries have been part of the story too. This season, he has been solid for Tampa Bay, but not at the level many have come to expect from him.
Some of that could be tied to Baker Mayfield being injured, and there’s also the question of whether the 30-year-old is starting to slip a bit. Through the season, Godwin has 23 receptions for 260 yards, averaging 9.4 yards per catch. He still hasn’t found the end zone.
In Other News...
Leonard Fournette Just Turned Up The Heat On Todd Bowles
The Buccaneers rough start has already put Todd Bowles under a brighter spotlight, and now one of the more recognizable voices from the recent past is adding to the pressure. Former Tampa Bay running back Leonard Fournette took aim at Bowles on a recent podcast, describing him as a quieter coach whose attention tilts more toward defense than offense, a critique that lands at a delicate moment for a team trying to steady itself after a 1-5 start.
Fournette also raised the kind of question that tends to linger around a struggling team when the losses start piling up, wondering aloud about the long-term fit in Tampa Bay. Even so, he did leave room for the idea that the Buccaneers are not dead in the division race, which only sharpens the tension around what comes next for Bowles and a roster still searching for a way to turn the season around. [Read more 🡒]
Chris Godwins Bucs Role Suddenly Feels Far Less Secure
Chris Godwins place in Tampa Bays passing game has looked less automatic over the past two seasons, a development that stands out even more after the ankle injury that slowed him in 2024. His target share has slipped, his route usage has shifted, and the overall volume that once made him such a steady part of the offense has not returned to the same level, even with some encouraging signs in his efficiency. For a Buccaneers team trying to keep its offense balanced and productive, that change has made one of its most dependable veterans feel a little less central than before.
The bigger question now is what that means for a player who still carries real value and real salary-cap weight. Tampa Bay has reasons to think carefully about its long-term books, and Godwins contract makes him part of that conversation as the season moves along. The Buccaneers do not have to decide anything immediately, but the fact that his role has been trimmed while his name keeps surfacing in cap discussions says plenty about how quickly the calculus around a proven receiver can change. [Read more 🡒]
Colts Suddenly Have A Veteran Trade Decision Rams Fans Will Watch
Davante Adams ruptured hamstring has forced the Rams into the wideout market, and the search comes with an immediate ripple effect for teams around the league. Terry McLaurin is off the board because of his season-ending injury, which has left Los Angeles looking at a slimmer list of options as it tries to patch a receiving group that suddenly needs help. Keenan Allen and Quentin Johnston are among the names being floated, and Chris Godwin has also entered the discussion as a possible fit if Tampa Bay is willing to engage.
For the Buccaneers, the question is as much about timing as it is about talent. A 1-5 start has made the situation feel precarious, but the NFC South is still there to be chased, which is why any move involving a proven receiver would have to be weighed carefully. Godwins status as a potential trade target gives this one real intrigue, even if nothing is close to settled yet. [Read more 🡒]