2017 NFL Draft Profile: WR Chris Godwin

In this 2017 NFL Draft profile, we analyze the strengths and weaknesses of wide receiver Chris Godwin, out of Penn State.

The former true-freshmen and three-year starter on offense, wide receiver Chris Godwin had a lights-out season for first-year offensive coordinator Joe Moorhead. Going into the season, Godwin was the no-doubt first receiving option for the new Nittany Lion quarterback, Trace McSorley. After a slow start to the season, Godwin had an incredible game vs Temple.

Temple couldn’t stop Godwin, giving up seven catches for 117 yards and a touchdown score. Godwin finished his junior year with 59 catches for 982 yards, and a whopping 11 touchdowns, including four games with two touchdowns. His Penn State finale ended with a loss to USC in the Rose Bowl, but Godwin showed the whole country who he was with his nine catches for 187 yards and two touchdowns.

The Delaware native received Third Team All-Big Ten honors in his senior season. His career numbers prove that he had nothing left to prove by staying for his senior year. Godwin had 154 career catches for over 2,400 yards, and he had 19 touchdowns.

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STRENGTHS

His hands and leaping ability are incredible. Seeing Godwin play live is exciting and results in a lot of leaping catches over a defender. Although listed at 6’1, Godwin plays like a 6’4 red-zone threat wide-out.

Godwin’s ability to use his body and position himself in front of the defender to catch the ball, mixed with his aggressiveness, should be something many general managers want. Godwin does a great job of adjusting to the throw, as you can see below vs Indiana this past year.

WEAKNESSES

His consistency makes you question his effort, especially when he drops easy footballs thrown to him. Something Godwin needs to improve on is run blocking skills, he just didn’t always help out his teammate, and Heisman hopeful, Saquon Barkley. He could also work on mastering his routes, with a poor offensive line play the past three season, Godwin found himself out of routes early on in plays.

VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS

DRAFT DAY PREDICTION

Simply because Godwin left school a year early, and also because this is a wide receiver heavy draft, Godwin is projected to be a second-round pick. Overall, a big body wide receiver who has the ability to go down the field and make a big play, and a red-zone threat, Godwin should be a safe pick in the second round.