The backbone of the Bucs offense in their 37-20 win over the Commanders to begin the year was wide receiver Chris Godwin. Moving back to the slot, which is a position that Godwin thrived in particularly from 2019-2021, saw immediate dividends as the Bucs started their 2024 season.

A staple of what has made Godwin so great for Tampa Bay is his ability to come up big in the clutch, his willingness to work in any area of the field when other receivers around the league won’t, his ability to block, and his overall consistency. Chris Godwin led the Bucs with eight catches for 83 yards in the game with a touchdown.

Chris Godwin Reacts To Being Back In The Slot

“It was a lot of fun,” Chris Godwin said after the Bucs won. “It felt good being in a lot of those tough positions. Obviously when you are in the slot, it’s a little bit easier to disguise if you are going to be run blocking or running a route – going inside, going outside, it gives you a lot of flexibility. Having a lot of fun but we have a lot of stuff to clean up.”

Tampa Bay head coach Todd Bowles was impressed with Godwin’s 2024 debut.

Bucs WR Chris Godwin – Photo by: Cliff Welch P/R

“He looked great,” Bowles said. “He did some good things in the run game, as well as the pass game. He got loose on some plays. He made some big catches. Yeah, Chris looked like Chris.”

It comes as no surprise that five of his eight catches were third down conversions, including a third-and-18 screen pass. Of the three that weren’t on third down, one was a touchdown.

“I take a lot of pride in my teammates trust in me to make those plays and whenever I’m out there I’m trying to convert as much as I can,” Godwin said. “I’m aware of how that impacts defenses, like their defense as well as our defense. The longer we can be on the field, the less our defense gets tired and the better chance we have of scoring. The more that I can be a part of the positive push like that, the happier I am.”

In some ways Godwin looks like his old self with his return to being Tampa Bay’s slot receiver in Liam Coen’s offense after spending two-thirds of his snaps outside last year in Dave Canales’ offense.

“I think I would agree with that,” Godwin said. “Just back doing a lot of things that I’m accustomed to doing over the last four or five years or so. It was a lot of fun, it felt good being in a lot of those tough positions. Obviously when you are in the slot,it’s a little bit easier to disguise if you are going to be run blocking or running a route –going inside, going outside, it gives you a lot of flexibility. Having a lot of fun but we have a lot of stuff to clean up.”

Bucs wide receiver Mike Evans said that Godwin looked like he did back in 2019 when he made his lone Pro Bowl, recorded his first 1,000-yard season and scored a career-high nine touchdowns.

“I mean, I think you are looking at 2024 Chris Godwin,” Godwin said. “Always looking to go up. I understand what [Evans was] getting at but for me, it’s always trying to take it to the next step up. If I’m living in the past, then I’m doing shit wrong. I’m grateful for where I’m at, I’m grateful for the experiences that I’ve gotten to have, cause all of those have gotten me to where I am at now, and I’m just fortunate to be here.”

Chris Godwin Was Baker Mayfield’s Favorite Target In Week 1

Bucs WR Chris Godwin – Photo by: Cliff Welch P/R

Last season, Chris Godwin scored just twice in the regular season and added in another in Tampa Bay’s first playoff game. Although the effort was always there, it was a shockingly low number.

It took one game this season to get half of his receiving touchdown production from a year ago, and with how he’s made his imprint on the entire offense – whether it was making a big block or getting the ball on third down – there’s no question Godwin looks like the receiver that Bucs fans are familiar to seeing.

His chemistry with Baker Mayfield has also improved, but that was always going to come with more time and experience together. The Bucs saw instant results in Week 1.

“Chris feels really good right now,” Mayfield said. “I think he’ll tell you guys that physically he feels good, and you know, this offense plays to his strengths. He’s always been a smart football player. He’s willing to do whatever the coaches are going to ask, but this is now his opportunity to really shine [and] get back to that, at least. He’s always been a stud, but yeah, Chris looks really good and the more ‘JMac’ (Jalen McMillan) can come along, and some of these younger receivers, the better it’s going to be for Mike and Chris as well.”