Point-Counterpoint: Who Will Be Bucs’ 2026 Receptions Leader?

It’s Godwin who is Tampa Bay’s $22 million man at wide receiver, and that means he’s going to be getting the ball – a lot. It’s Godwin who has the longest history and best rapport with quarterback Baker Mayfield. And it’s Godwin who can reliably move the chains when the offense is up against it, especially in those third-and-short and third-and-medium situations.

If you have questions about whether Chris Godwin Jr. can still be the guy he used to be at age 30 and with an injury history that includes two major season-enders, consider that the pace he was on last year extrapolated over a full season would’ve had him right there with Emeka Egbuka for the team lead in receptions. And that was just a year removed from the dislocated ankle that ended Godwin’s 2024 season. He had 33 catches over nine games, and when you average that out over a full 17? That’s 62 catches, right there along with Egbuka’s team lead of 63.

So for me, the bet is that two years removed from that injury, Godwin is back to being himself again and finds himself capable of playing at least 15 games. Combine all of that with the addition of new offensive coordinator Zac Robinson, whose system will be closer to what Liam Coen ran when Godwin had 50 catches in seven games before his season-ending injury? I like the leader of the Bucs’ receiver room to be the receptions leader as well.

Health will be the biggest factor, but I still believe in Chris Godwin Jr. and his ability to drive this offense as Baker Mayfield’s top target. You should too.

Counter-Point: Emeka Egbuka Has Already Emerged As Tampa Bay’s No. 1 Receiver

By  Scott Reynolds

Emeka Egbuka didn’t quite reach 1,000 receiving yards last year as a rookie like Mike Evans did as Tampa Bay’s No. 1 pick back in 2014. Egbuka finished the year with 63 catches for 938 yards while playing in all 17 games. But that rookie season was a sign of things to come for the 2025 first-rounder. Barring injury, Egbuka will likely be Tampa Bay’s leading receiver for years to come, especially with Evans’ departure in free agency. Not because of his draft status, rather because of the talent that made Egbuka the Bucs’ selection in the first round last year.

If Egbuka put up those kind of numbers when he was just getting his feet wet at the NFL level, imagine what he could do in his second year now that he is more accustomed to playing at the highest level. Throw in the fact that Egbuka was coming off a deep playoff run and a national championship win at Ohio State, and it was understandable that he hit a rookie wall last December and faded down the stretch.

Egbuka also had to carry the entire weight of the Bucs’ passing game on his shoulders at times last year with Evans missing half the season and Chris Godwin Jr. only available for nine games. Yet he handled that pressure like a pro and often delivered – even right out of the gate, scoring the game-winning touchdowns at Atlanta and at Houston in the first two weeks of the season.

If Godwin can stay healthy and play for most of the season – perhaps 15 games, as Bailey Adams suggests – then he might wind up as the leading receiver, and Adams could be right. However, I’m not sure I trust the 30-year old wide receiver’s body to hold up. And any amount of missed time will likely mean Egbuka leads Tampa Bay in catches and yards – and maybe even touchdowns – once again.

One other factor that could aid Egbuka is the fact that he has the position versatility to play both the flanker (Z) and slot (Y) positions, whereas Godwin is almost pigeonholed into playing in the slot at this stage of his career. That flexibility increases the amount of time that Egbuka will be on the field in 2026. When Godwin and Egbuka are on the field together, Godwin will be in the slot and Egbuka will be outside as a flanker. And when Godwin needs a breather, Egbuka slides into the slot as his replacement and either Jalen McMillan or Tez Johnson replaces Egbuka as the flanker.

More snaps could equal more catches for Egbuka in 2026 and give him the edge over the veteran.