Chris Godwin is going to be a wealthy man this offseason. Whether that comes with the Bucs or another team is a decision down the road. But it feels like Godwin is adding another million to his contract on every reception and yard he produces.

His current two-game stretch of 25 catches for 248 yards is one of the best runs of his career. Over the past two weeks, Godwin has broken the Bucs franchise record of single-game receptions with 15, while also hitting 1,000 receiving yards in just 13 games.

But is it the absolute best we’ve seen Godwin? It’s hard to argue with an exceptional 2019 season, in which he recorded 86 receptions for 1,333 yards and nine touchdowns in 14 games, earning his first Pro Bowl. Godwin already has 92 catches this year, but stands at 1,054 yards and five receiving touchdowns with four games to go.

Bucs WR Chris Godwin – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Always willing to put it bluntly, Bucs head coach Bruce Arians made it clear Godwin has always played at this level.

“I just think his opportunities have gone up,” Arians said. “He has played some great games. It’s hard to say he’s played better than he has in the past because he’s always played outstanding. It’s just his targets have gone up.”

Of course, Godwin is only focused on winning this late into the season.

“I think really more than anything it’s really just chipping away at your task at hand,” Godwin said. “It’s a long season and we understand that. I think how we’ve been kind of doing things and gradually getting better over the course of the season. It’s a lot better than starting off 5-0 and then losing 10 out of your next however many games. That’s not the way that you want to go. You constantly want to be able to learn and grow from your mistakes so that you’re playing your best ball in December and January. Because that’s when it really matters.”

You can almost set your watch to Godwin being the most consistent receiver on the Bucs’ roster. Each game he gets a number of designed screen passes to him and can be seen normally at the top of the box score in receptions and yards when the game is done. He currently leads the Bucs in both of those categories.

“He’s playing incredible,” quarterback Tom Brady said. “Even the year before I got here, obviously he had an incredible kind of breakout year where the whole league understood how great Chris was. Before I met him, just his work ethic, watching him, and then getting to know him and just seeing how much he puts into it week-in and week-out. It’s really amazing to watch. He’s an incredible player, great teammate, cares about everybody on the field. Just a great competitor. He’s just come up huge in some big moments. He’s having a great season. It’s not surprising to any of us because we see it every day, but he’s really an amazing player.”

Bucs WR Chris Godwin – Photo by: USA Today

What makes Godwin’s skill set so entertaining is that he impacts the game in a variety of ways. He’s a great receiver, but he’s just as good getting yards after the catch. He’ll also make tacklers miss, blocking in the run game, get open at all three levels of the field and even get the occasional handoff. After all, Godwin had the Bucs first rushing touchdown this season. He can do a little bit of of everything, and he does it all well.

“I think Chris has had a great three years really since we’ve been here,” offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich said. “He’s as complete as a player can be at a single position. He’s as good as they come. Whatever we ask him to do, he’s able to do it. Like I tell you guys all the time, I’m putting him on linebackers. I’m having him block. I’m giving him responsibilities that you normally wouldn’t give wide receivers and he’s always [up] to the challenge.

“The biggest thing from a coach is that you can trust him. You can trust that he’ll do the right thing in whatever moment, if you’re prepared for it or not, because sometimes things just happen on the grass. He’s always been capable and smart enough to make the right play at all times. It’s priceless to have a player like that [with what] we ask him to do week-in and week-out. He’s a special guy.”

Bucs QB Tom Brady and WR Chris Godwin – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

His blocking and physicality have particularly been noticed by the fanbase. He’s become one of the best blocking receivers in football, and his physical nature has also helped him out as a receiver.

“I do enjoy blocking,” Godwin said. “I enjoy just doing whatever I can to help the team. That’s kind of how I approach the whole thing. We’re all out there together giving it our all. I think it’s just a mentality. I’ve played this way my entire life. When I started playing football, I was a lineman. So just my love of the game and just wanting to play the game at that age has continued to grow. So now that I’m catching the ball, I still sort of have that same mentality.”

The Bucs placed the franchise tag on Godwin for the 2021 season, paying him a guaranteed $15.9 million. With the way he’s delivered, Tampa Bay will certainly want to bring him back with a long term contract next season, no matter the cost.