Bucs’ Dynamic Duo At WR Remains A Rarity Worth Appreciating

For the last seven seasons, the Bucs haven’t had to wonder for a second which two names would top their depth chart at wide receiver.

WR1: Mike Evans, WR2: Chris Godwin.

It’s been that way since 2017, and over the years, Tampa Bay’s dynamic duo has easily become the best this franchise has ever seen at the wide receiver position. But they’re also more than that.

Mike Evans is the Bucs’ best-ever receiver, and he’s the best and most prolific offensive player in team history. Chris Godwin has firmly established himself as Tampa Bay’s second-best-ever receiver, too, trailing only Evans.

Evans, who just completed his 10th season with the Bucs, is the franchise’s all-time leader in receiving yards (11,680), receptions (762), targets (1,321) and receiving touchdowns (94). He also has the most total touchdowns in team history, and he owns the NFL record for most consecutive 1,000-yard receiving seasons to start a career (10 seasons and counting).

As for Godwin, he just completed his seventh season with Tampa Bay and is second in receiving yards (6,690), receptions (529), targets (754) and receiving touchdowns (34, tied with Jimmie Giles).

Both Evans and Godwin are Bucs Ring of Honor-worthy when they decide to walk away from the game.

How many teams can say they’ve seen the best two receivers in their respective franchise histories suit up together and line up on the field at the same time?

The answer is “not many,” which is why it’s worth appreciating time and again what the Bucs have in this duo.

In fact, it’s because of Evans and Godwin that Tampa Bay’s wide receiver room (as currently constructed) has more receiving yards as a collective group than any other room in the league. Based on this graph put together by Arjun Menon, Bucs wide receivers have combined for 19,713 career receiving yards, beating out the Titans’ receiving corps, who is the next closest at 19,556.

Based on the current 90 man rosters for every team, here are the total combined career receiving yards for every team’s WR rooms as they currently stand and are built. At least Lamar has Mark Andrews, the next QB from the bottom has… Will Dissly? pic.twitter.com/2qeFS7pMcz

— Arjun Menon (@arjunmenon100) March 20, 2024

Evans and Godwin have accounted for 18,370 of Tampa Bay’s 19,713 receiving yards. That’s special, and it’s rare.

For general manager Jason Licht and the Bucs to have drafted both of the best two receivers in franchise history three years apart is impressive enough. But the fact that the team has been able to retain both players and keep its dynamic duo going strong for this long? That’s even more impressive – and it’s difficult to do.

Bucs WRs Mike Evans and Chris Godwin – Photo by: USA Today

The fact that the Bucs and their fans have gotten to enjoy so many years of this legendary wide receiver duo is a testament to both the front office and Evans and Godwin themselves. It’s taken genius contract and salary cap work, namely from assistant general manager Mike Greenberg.

But it’s also taken some selflessness on the part of both receivers. At a position that is ripe with egos and “me-first” types, Evans and Godwin have been as selfless as they come. They’ve been good teammates and good leaders year in and year out.

All good things must come to an end, but until this duo is no longer coming out of the Bucs’ tunnel, it’s worth appreciating every second of getting to see them putting up numbers and further cementing their places in franchise history – both as individuals and as a tandem.

Will 2024 Be The Final Year Of The Bucs’ Perennially Elite WR Duo?

The Bucs signing Mike Evans to a two-year contract extension this offseason was huge in their quest to make him a Buc for life. The soon-to-be 31-year-old just had one of his best seasons at age 30, and while he may very well play beyond those two years he’s signed for, it’s hard to imagine him going and playing anywhere else at that point in his career.

But while Evans is well on his way to being a Buc for life, the future is less certain for Chris Godwin. Godwin, the team’s third-round pick in 2017 out of Penn State, is entering a contract year at age 28. He’ll be a free agent next offseason at age 29, and considering the Bucs have just doled out new contracts for Evans and quarterback Baker Mayfield – and will soon do the same for All-Pro safety Antoine Winfield Jr. and Pro Bowl left tackle Tristan Wirfs – he’s no lock to return for 2025 and beyond.

Tampa Bay simply can’t afford to keep all of its stars all the time.

Bucs WRs Mike Evans and Chris Godwin – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Godwin signed a new three-year deal after the 2021 season as he was recovering from a torn ACL he suffered late in the year. He has since posted back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons, one of which was also a 104-catch campaign. His touchdown numbers are down, but it’s clear he still has plenty left in the tank.

Entering his age-29 season in 2025, what kind of contract will he be looking for? With the Bucs rightfully paying Evans as their WR1, can they afford to keep Godwin at $20 million per year as well? Would they be willing to pay top dollar (or close to it) for a duo featuring receivers at 32 and 29 years old, respectively?

It’s something that Licht and his staff must ponder in the near future. How the 2024 season plays out may factor into things, but there’s no doubt that the Bucs love Godwin and would want to keep him around on another new contract if possible.

Licht, Todd Bowles and likely everyone inside the AdventHealth Training Center would surely prefer for this duo to part ways only after a retirement – years into the future. But business is business, and everything doesn’t always work out perfectly in the end.

It’s not necessarily a front-of-the-mind matter right now, but the future of this incredible, record-breaking and historically good wide receiver duo beyond 2024 is in question. For now, take it all in and enjoy it.

The best two receivers in franchise history have at least one more season together in red and pewter. And if their previous years together are any indication, they’re going to keep making magic together on Sundays.

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