The Buccaneers are counting on Chris Godwin Jr. to carry a heavier load this season, and new offensive coordinator Zac Robinson clearly likes what he’s seen so far.
With Mike Evans now in San Francisco, Godwin has become the veteran centerpiece of Tampa Bay’s receiver room. That means more leadership duties, more responsibility, and a bigger share of the offense as the Bucs try to replace Evans’ production.
It also means the team needs Godwin on the field, something that’s been an issue lately. He has missed 17 games over the past two seasons because of various injuries.
Even with the uncertainty around his availability, Robinson has been impressed by what Godwin has brought to camp. Speaking with reporters on Thursday, the first-year OC praised Godwin’s work, his presence, and the trust he already has built with Baker Mayfield.
"Yeah, he's a total stud, human being, football player. I mean, you guys know 'C.G.'
(Chris Godwin Jr.). He'll probably go down as one of my all-time favorite guys to be around and I've been around him just a short amount of time.
So yeah, he means a lot to this organization clearly from his career here and his training camp was impressive, like seeing him come back from the injuries [and] where he's at right now. He's moving around great.
He's had a great training camp. Obviously, Baker [Mayfield] has a ton of trust in him to throw in some tight windows and tight coverage.
He's got strong, aggressive hands, all those things. Then, the stuff that we haven't been able to see is his ability with the ball in his hands to break tackles and do the things that he does.
So yeah, I've been really impressed just with him as a person. He's a lead-by-example [player], and then when he speaks up, guys listen for sure.
He's been awesome to just get to know. He had a great training camp.
It's fun to see him rolling."
Godwin’s resume in Tampa Bay already tells the story of why he matters so much. Over nine seasons, he has totaled 612 catches, 7,626 receiving yards and 41 receiving touchdowns. Now the Bucs are asking him to do that work without Evans alongside him, while also helping guide younger receivers like Emeka Egbuka, Jalen McMillan and Ted Hurst.
Robinson also likes how Godwin fits with the quarterback. He pointed to Mayfield’s trust in Godwin as a key part of what makes the connection so valuable, especially when the throws get crowded and the windows get tight.
The good news for Tampa Bay is that Robinson’s offense should feel familiar. The Bucs were excellent with Liam Coen as offensive coordinator in 2024, and Robinson’s system is expected to be very similar. If Godwin stays healthy, he should be in position to thrive again and help push the offense back toward the level the team expects.
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Now the question around Garnes is no longer whether he belongs in the conversation, but how soon the Buccaneers might need him to be more than depth. A player who impressed enough to make the team after entering as an undrafted rookie naturally carries a different kind of intrigue once the season begins, especially at a position where opportunity can appear fast. For Tampa Bay, Garnes has already gone from camp story to rostered defender, and the next step may be just as revealing. [Read more 🡒]