With all of the talk about O.J. Howard and DeSean Jackson joining the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, don't overlook rookie wide receiver Chris Godwin.
He may have been a third-round pick (No. 84 overall, to be exact), but there is no denying that new Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin has talent.
A former Penn State Nittany Lion, Godwin really made the most of his 2016 campaign, catching 59 passes for 982 yards and 11 touchdowns, which set a career-high. Perhaps the most impressive game of his entire season was his Rose Bowl showing. Although the Nittany Lions lost 52-49, Godwin was a bright spot, snagging nine passes for 187 yards and two scores.
For his Penn State career, Godwin played in 40 games, catching 154 passes for 2,421 yards and 18 touchdowns.
Now, Godwin has made the leap to the big time as he aspires to live out his NFL dream with the Buccaneers. So far, it sounds like things are going relatively well, but Godwin knows he has a lot to work on.
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"I definitely feel like I've been making progress. It's a lot to learn," Godwin told the Tampa Bay Times on Thursday. "But the veteran guys, they've been doing a great job of helping out not only myself but the rest of the rookies kind of get acclimated. Just having their help and having their confidence in me has allowed me to come in and make plays and be comfortable doing what I do."
This is tremendous news for the Buccaneers who already have explosive playmakers at the wide receiver position in newly-acquired DeSean Jackson and Mike Evans. The entire NFL knows what those two can do.
Jackson is coming off a 2016 season that saw him catch 56 passes for 1,005 yards and four touchdowns for the Washington Redskins. In the meantime, Evans caught 96 passes for 1,321 yards and 12 touchdowns. Those 1,321 yards are the most he has had to this point in his career.
Where does Godwin fit with Tampa Bay?
So where does Godwin fit in the picture? Per a recent depth chart from OurLads.com, Godwin would be slotted as the No. 3 left wide receiver behind Adam Humphries and Jackson.
It would not be outlandish to suggest that he could move up that depth chart very soon. One of the things he has working in his favor is his 4.42-second 40-yard dash time, which was clocked at the NFL scouting combine. This makes him a viable threat when throwing downfield.
The multitude of deep threats is something that Tampa Bay has not had in a very long time and Godwin appears to be in the mix. Especially considering that Jackson is 30 years old, Godwin has the potential to be a key player in the future of the Buccaneers, something that could help them resurrect their status as a playoff team.
