The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are coming off a disappointing 2025 season. At one time, the team looked like one of the best in the league, but they ended up having one of the worst collapses in the league.
It's safe to say the team has higher expectations for 2026. The NFC South is still very winnable and the team still has solid playmakers like Bucky Irving, Emeka Egbuka, and Chris Godwin.
Speaking of Godwin, though, the veteran receiver desperately needs to bounce back in 2026. Due to his lackluster couple of seasons, the receiver now holds a very dubious distinction.
Godwin identified as one of worst contracts in NFL
Brad Gagnon of Bleacher Report recently identified the worst contracts in the NFL. Gagnon listed Godwin, perhaps surprisingly, as the second-worst contract in the entire league.
Regarding this choice, Gagnon offered the following:
The 30-year-old has failed to play in double-digit games in back-to-back seasons and his productivity when healthy plummeted in 2025. Godwin hasn't put up 1,200 yards or scored eight touchdowns since 2019, which is also the last time he was a Pro Bowler or All-Pro.
His $33.7 million 2026 cap hit ranks No. 1 among wide receivers, and the team would have to bite the bullet on a $16.2 million dead-cap charge to move on in 2027.
As Gagnon mentioned, Godwin is now 30 and he's failed to play in double-digit games in back-to-back seasons. Godwin only played in nine games in 2025 and ended with just 33 catches for 360 yards and two touchdowns.
It's safe to say the Bucs need more out of their receiver than that level of production. That's especially true now considering franchise legend Mike Evans left in free agency this offseason.
Godwin has the largest cap hit of any receiver in 2026, which is pretty crazy to think about. As Gagnon pointed out, the team can't even move on from Godwin after 2026 without eating an over $16 million cap hit.
Can Godwin bounce back?
At one time, Godwin was actually among the best receivers in the league. In 2019, Godwin earned his one-and-only Pro Bowl bid after catching 86 passes for 1,333 yards and nine touchdowns. The receiver has never reached that level again, but he does have four total seasons of 1,000-plus yards.
The Bucs really need the veteran to bounce back in 2025. Not only because of his bloated contract, but also because the Bucs' offense stalled out in 2025. Now, Evans isn't here to bail the offense out, so more pressure falls on Egbuka and Godwin. If Godwin can play even close to his 2019 level again, the Bucs should be in good shape.
More NFL news: