The countdown to the Bucs’ 2026 season is on. Right now, we’re:
83 days away from Bucs regular season kickoff
53 days away from Bucs preseason kickoff
37 days away from Bucs training camp
In the lead-up to training camp, Pewter Report’s Bailey Adams will be diving into storylines for 26 key figures who will be crucial to the Bucs’ success in 2026.
Today, the series continues with wide receiver Chris Godwin Jr.
26 For ‘26: Chris Godwin Jr. Bucs Storylines In 2026
With Mike Evans Gone, This Is Chris Godwin Jr.’s WR Room
When Chris Godwin Jr. was drafted in the 2017, Mike Evans had already been a Buccaneer for three seasons and had three 1,000-yard campaigns and 27 career touchdowns to his name. Who better for Godwin to learn from upon getting drafted in the third round out of Penn State?
Bucs WRs Mike Evans and Chris Godwin – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR
Soon enough, Evans and Godwin established themselves as the first- and second-best receivers in franchise history, respectively. They formed one of the league’s top receiving duos for nearly a decade, and in recent years, they led a young receiver room together.
But now, Evans is in San Francisco, which means this is Godwin’s wide receiver room now. Maybe he won’t be the clearly defined WR1 considering the wealth of weapons quarterback Baker Mayfield will have to spread the ball around to. He definitely won’t be what Evans was for this offense considering they’re two completely different receivers.
But this is Godwin’s group. This is Year 10 for the 30-year old, and the only receivers who are locks to make the team along with him are 24, 23, 24 and 21 years old. That’s a third-year pro in McMillan, second-year pros in Emeka Egbuka and Tez Johnson and a rookie in Ted Hurst.
Bucs WRs Jalen McMillan and Chris Godwin Jr. – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR
When the offense is facing a critical third-and-6, who is the experienced, reliable chain mover who knows how to win in those situations? It’s Godwin. It may be Egbuka or McMillan or any of the others in time, but Godwin is that guy right now. Factor in his leadership and mentorship ability — something he has proudly displayed even with Evans around — and you’ll be seeing a captain’s “C” on Godwin’s jersey this year.
And rightfully so. This is his room.
What Does Chris Godwin Jr. Have Left In The Tank At Age 30?
With all of that said about this wide receiver room belonging to Godwin, perhaps the biggest question surrounding the four-time 1,000-yard receiver this season is what he has left in the tank. Or maybe it’s better put this way: In his age-30 season, can Godwin get back to the player he was prior to his season-ending injury in 2024?
Godwin has been through a lot over the course of his career. Amid what was sure to be his second Pro Bowl campaign in 2021, he suffered a devastating knee injury that ended his season and helped damage the Bucs’ hopes of a Super Bowl repeat. He came back with a 1,000-yard season in 2022, but he still wasn’t really himself.
Godwin then looked more like the real Godwin in 2023 and especially at the start of 2024, which saw him catch 50 of his 62 targets for 576 yards and five touchdowns in just seven games in Liam Coen’s offense. But then came another devastating season-ending injury. This time, it was a fractured and dislocated ankle.
Bucs WR Chris Godwin Jr. – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR
In his return to the field last year, Godwin never really reached the heights he soared to prior to that second season-ending injury. He was limited to nine games (six starts) and posted career lows in targets (51), catches (33) and yards (360). There were signs late in the year that he was returning to form, but will he be more like the Godwin of old this year, or is that player a thing of the past due to his age and multiple season-ending injuries?
If Bucs OTAs and mini-camp are anything to go by, things are looking promising for a Godwin rebound this year. Granted, it’s been in shorts, jerseys and helmets, but the veteran receiver is getting open and catching just about everything. Zac Robinson’s offense being more like the system Godwin thrived in under Coen two years ago could mean a significant rebound. The Bucs certainly hope that will be the case.
Could This Be Chris Godwin Jr.’s “Last Dance” With The Bucs?
It’s hard to imagine the Bucs seeing Mike Evans walk away one offseason and then deciding to part ways with Chris Godwin Jr. the very next. Yet it’s not an impossibility. There’s a potential out for Tampa Bay in Godwin’s contract, and if he doesn’t play at a level that a $33 million receiver should in 2026, might the team make a tough call on the option in the veteran’s deal?
Despite that season-ending injury Godwin suffered in October 2024, the Bucs decided to sign him to a three-year, $66 million contract that offseason. It was a show of faith by Tampa Bay, yet it was also a major display of loyalty from Godwin as he passed up bigger money elsewhere — including New England — to remain with the team that drafted him.
Bucs WR Chris Godwin – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR
His cap hit in 2025 was just shy of $13 million. But it jumps north of $33 million in 2026 with a $22 million base salary. The potential out ahead of 2027 that the Bucs could opt to take presents a challenging decision.
Does team leadership feel like a 31-year-old Godwin will be worth the $1.5 million roster bonus he’ll be due and a $29.933 million cap hit with a $20.5 million base salary for 2027? Or would it be worth $16.231 million in dead cap space – albeit with a savings of close to $4 million – to cut ties with one of the longest-tenured players on the team?
Of course, that’ll heavily depend on Godwin’s performance at age 30 in 2026. But it also could depend on the progression and development of the team’s younger receivers and perhaps even how contract talks with Baker Mayfield go.
Again, it’s hard to fathom the idea of 2026 being the last dance for Chris Godwin Jr. in Tampa Bay, especially after 2025 served as exactly that for Mike Evans. But it could play out that way.
Catch Up On Previous Installments Of Bailey Adams’ 26 For ’26 Series
Bailey Adams is in his fifth year with Pewter Report. Born and raised in Tampa, he has closely followed the Bucs all his life and has covered them in some capacity since 2016. In addition to his responsibilities as a beat writer, he also contributes to the site as an editor. He graduated from the University of Central Florida in 2019 and currently co-hosts The Pegasus Podcast, a podcast dedicated to covering UCF Football.
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