PFF: Penn State Football alum Chris Godwin part of NFL’s best WR corps

Former Penn State Football wide receiver Chris Godwin is a key piece of what Pro Football Focus says is the NFL’s premier wide receiving corps

Former Penn State wide receiver Chris Godwin was integral to the Buccaneers’ Super Bowl championship back in February, and is a vital piece in Tampa’s title defense.

Godwin, despite suffering a broken finger last season, caught 65 passes for 840 yards and seven touchdowns, before signing the franchise tag to return to the Buccaneers in 2021.

The Buccaneers should be considered a favorite to at least reach the Super Bowl for a second consecutive year, especially after general manager Jason Licht was able to bring back all 22 starters, a first for a Super Bowl champion in the salary cap era.

Godwin is a significant part of that equation.

According to Pro Football Focus, Godwin and the Buccaneers’ receiving corps is the best in the NFL:

"The Bucs showed the value of offensive-weapon depth and how putting multiple effective playmakers on the field puts defenses in a bind.It starts with a wide receiver room that features Mike Evans, Chris Godwin and Antonio Brown, the best trio in the league. Evans has graded at 80.0-plus in all but two years of his career, and he finished with over 1,200 yards and 15 touchdowns (including the playoffs) despite battling injuries throughout the season. He could be even more dangerous with a healthy 2021.Godwin returns on the franchise tag after grading at 75.0 or better in his four years. He’s been one of the most sure-handed receivers in the league since 2017, though he went through a difficult stretch in the playoffs, with seven of his 13 career drops all occurring during the Bucs’ 2020 playoff push. Like Evans, Godwin battled injuries and may be even better this season.Brown was the highest-graded receiver on the team last year despite not seeing action until Week 9. He has been one of the best receivers in the league throughout his career, and he was a key target down the stretch as he got more acclimated to the offense."

Playing a second season catching passes from Tom Brady should help Godwin elevate his game in 2021, which is a pivotal contract season for the 25-year-old.

There is a good chance that Godwin remains in Tampa Bay for years to come, as the Buccaneers currently boast upwards of $26 million in cap space in 2022 and Licht has deftly maneuvered the salary cap in recent years to keep the core together.

Prior to being chosen by the Buccaneers in the second-round of the 2017 NFL Draft, Godwin caught 154 passes for 2,421 yards and 18 touchdowns as a three-year starter for the Nittany Lions.