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Chris Godwin of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

With Mike Evans leaving the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the team is going to be reliant on Chris Godwin to be the leader of the wide receiver corps. While it is early on, it looks like he is already taking over that role. Godwin has been helping Jalen McMillan off the field since his rookie year and is embracing the new expectations, per Jenna Laine of ESPN.

The Bucs’ wide receiver room is going to look different without Evans. The team now has Godwin, who is 30 years old, accompanied by McMillan, who is 24, Emeka Egbuka, who is 23, and Ted Hurst, who is 21-years old. Beyond that, Egbuka is the only one of the three who has strung together consistent production, and even he hit a rookie wall during the 2025 season.

Tampa Bay quickly went from one of the best duos in the NFL in terms of talent and production to an aging receiver and three up-and-coming names with questions behind him. Evans has the more sustained track record of production, but now that he is not there, it will have to be Godwin showing the young receivers what it takes to make it in the NFL. Everything he has done so far has shown he can be that player.

Chris Godwin Needs a Big Year for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Beyond being a leader off the field, Godwin has to give the Bucs more when he is on the field. Godwin is coming off a career-low year. He suffered a devastating ankle injury in the year prior and came back too soon in 2025. He got banged up early, and when he did return, he did not look like the same player.

While he continued to work with the team, continued to mentor the young players, and worked hard to get back on the field, which is what the team wants. However, with an injury history that is now growing, and entering an age when players start to decline, there is a real question about what Godwin can bring to the team aside from being the leader of the group.

The Buccaneers Have a Big Decision Looming With Chris Godwin

It is likely not lost on both sides that Godwin has a player option next year that would save the team over $13M in cap space if they decline the option. Godwin is a longtime Buc, and if he showed signs of his old days, they would likely give him that last year. However, if he has a three-year run of injury-riddled seasons, the team would have no choice but to move on.

Considering they have three receivers on rookie salary deals who could step into the three starting roles, the need for Godwin is not substantial beyond this year. Egbuka might already be the most talented receiver in the group, and the other two could ascend with the leadership of Godwin. Godwin could own the room this year, but he is expected to pass it off to the younger Egbuka after the season.