Chris Godwin Jr. faces a "bizarre" reality without Mike Evans, as Tampa Bay’s revamped aerial attack turns to rising stars Jalen McMillan and Emeka Egbuka for production.
As the Tampa Bay Buccaneers look to rebound from a losing season in 2025 (8-9), both the offense and defense suffered some big hits.
Mike Evans and Lavonte David, two of the greatest players in franchise history, have moved on from Tampa, with Evans landing with the San Francisco 49ers and David calling it a career.
Chris Godwin Jr., who was Evans' right-hand man for nine seasons in Tampa Bay, talked about the "bizarre" feeling of not seeing his longtime running mate at opening practice.
"That’s my guy," Godwin said. "He’s happy, and if he’s happy, I’m happy."
There has been nothing but love from Tampa's remaining players about Evans' decision, but it will definitely sting to see him in a different uniform this upcoming season.
Luckily, the Bucs have formed a strong wide receiver corps outside of Evans, with Emeka Egbuka, Jalen McMillan, and Tez Johnson forming the next generation of weapons on the outside.
Godwin talked abut his offseason workouts with McMillan especially, calling him a "huge energy guy," and "unbelievable talent."
During McMillan's rookie campaign, his five straight games with a receiving touchdown was the second-longest streak by a first-year receiver in NFL history, trailing only Randy Moss (7).
Unfortunately, a neck injury in training camp stunted McMillan's growth in Year 2, as the Washington product appeared in just four games.
He did post one strong performance, hauling in seven receptions for 114 yards against the Miami Dolphins.
Entering Year 3, McMillan will be expected to have a larger role in offensive coordinator Zac Robinson's system, to which Godwin believes will be no problem.
"I think he's [McMillan] going to surprise a lot of people," Godwin added.
Godwin himself should also be in for a more productive season, as the 30-year old wideout failed to eclipse 600 receiving yards for a second-consecutive year.
Of course, Godwin has been working back from a gruesome left ankle injury towards the end of the 2024 campaign that limited him to just sixteen appearances since.
But, Godwin's production prior to his injury was consistent and dynamic, with the former Nittany Lion recording four 1000+ yard seasons from 2019-2023.
Alongside second-year wideouts Emeka Egbuka and Tez Johnson, the Bucs still have a formidable group for Baker Mayfield to target.
Egbuka was ranked the best player from the 2025 draft class by FOX Sports in mid-April, while Johnson was tagged as the Bucs' most surprising performer at OTAs by ESPN.
Georgia State wide receiver Ted Hurst, who the Bucs selected in the third round of this past year's draft, could continue Tampa's trend of drafting difference makers on the outside, as he recorded 127 receptions for 1,965 yards and 15 touchdowns over his last two collegiate seasons.
