Tampa Bay Buccaneers OC Liam Coen expects “big season” from WR Chris Godwin

Chris Godwin has never had a bad NFL season. He had one that finished bad in 2021, when a serious knee injury sidelined him for the final three games and the playoffs, forcing him to focus on rehab next offseason. But he has topped 1,000 receiving yards in four of the past five seasons — no small feat considering fellow starter Mike Evans has enough receiving yards to top 1,000 in all of those seasons as well — and his 104 receiving yards in 2022 were the second-most in a single season in Tampa Bay Buccaneers history.

However, it is possible that Godwin has not yet preferably NFL season. There are reasons to be optimistic he could reach new heights in 2024, not least of which is his return to being the Buccaneers' primary slot receiver. That was the plan of offensive coordinator Liam Coen, who is in his first year and was with the Los Angeles Rams during Cooper Kupp's rise to stardom and sees great potential in Godwin filling the type of role Kupp plays in Sean McVay's offense. Coincidentally, Godwin is in his 28th season, the same age Kupp was when he won the receiving triple crown with 145 catches for 1,947 yards and 16 touchdowns.

It would be irresponsible to predict such outrageous numbers for Godwin or any other receiver in the NFL, but it would be crazy to think he could match his 86-1,333-9 season as a Pro Bowler in 2019. The man calling the plays in particular believes Godwin is destined for great things in 2024.

“I expect a great year from Chris,” Coen said. “He had a great offseason. He's been so reliable, so consistent. Every day, the guy comes to work and has the same demeanor, the same attitude and mentality. And then he goes out and trains like crazy. The guy doesn't take a break, he doesn't jog, he doesn't slack off. Everything he does is a pro-pro mentality.”

Coen hasn't worked with Godwin until this season, but he knows his history and has obviously devoured footage of all the Bucs' offensive players after landing his current job in January. He's well aware that the injury Godwin suffered in late 2021 has impacted the receiver's subsequent seasons. Godwin has worked his way back into the game impressively by early 2022, and actually hauled in those 104 catches, but also posted a career-low 9.8 yards per carry. He was closer to 100 percent last season, catching 83 passes for 1,024 yards, but that was when he played primarily outside in the Dave Canales offense. Not only are Coen and Godwin excited about the receiver's return to the inside, but Coen believes Godwin is back to full form.

“I expect it to show up,” Coen said. “I think it's going to show up for him. I think he's feeling better. You can see his balance is better. He doesn't feel like he has to cut a leg off. He's got better balance, he's got better feel and I think his physical attributes and ability are going to take over and I expect him to have a good year.”

The other big reason to believe in Godwin's potential in 2024 and beyond is his tireless work ethic, which helped him in his comeback from injury but which he can now use to fully absorb and execute Coen's rather complicated and movement-intensive offense. How hard Godwin and his teammates have worked on this has been a welcome development for the Bucs' new coordinator.

“Their thirst for more, their thirst to learn, their thirst to expand their football understanding and continue to learn the details, fundamentals and techniques of their position and their craft,” Coen said. “We have Hall of Famers, we have All-Pros, we have some really good players, but they still try to get better every week, every day. That was kind of a … not a 'pleasant surprise,' but it was nice to have a group of guys that have had success, been on Super Bowl winning teams, but still thirst for more.”

Godwin, the second-best receiver in virtually every category in Buccaneers history, clearly craves a lot more. There's a good chance he'll get it in 2024.