The news that every Tampa Bay fan has been waiting for is here: The Bucs and star receiver Chris Godwin have agreed to a new contract, according to multiple reports. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport and ESPN’s Adam Schefter were among the first to break the news.

Godwin was set to become a free agent on March 12th when the new league year began. The Bucs selected him in the third round of the 2017 NFL Draft, and he has spent his entire NFL career in Tampa. And now that will continue. The deal is reportedly for three years and $66 million, with $45 million guaranteed. According to Rapoport, Godwin left some money on the table to return to the Bucs.

Godwin was the biggest pending free agent for the Bucs in an offseason that has fewer stars pending free agency than last year. As of Monday afternoon, the team has already agreed to new deals with their top free agents, including Godwin, left guard Ben Bredeson and linebacker Lavonte David, another team legend.

Chris Godwin Provides New Ceiling For Bucs Offense

Bucs WR Chris Godwin – Photo by: USA Today

Under offensive coordinator Liam Coen in 2024, Chris Godwin was on pace for the best season of his career. Through seven games, he had 60 targets, 50 catches, 576 yards and five touchdowns. That averages out to a 17-game pace of 146 targets, 121 catches, 1,399 yards and 12 touchdowns.

At the time of his season-ending ankle injury, Godwin ranked sixth in receiving yards, third in receptions, tied for fourth in receiving touchdowns and was the league leader in first downs.

That injury, paired with a hamstring injury to fellow receiver Mike Evans that kept him off the field for a month, put a ceiling on the Bucs’ potent offense. Tampa Bay averaged 29.9 points per game with Godwin in the lineup as opposed to 29.3 without. That isn’t a big difference, but Coen’s offense was at its best with a prototypical F receiver.

The Bucs didn’t have someone who could truly take that role once Godwin went down. With the emergence of rookie Jalen McMillan as the Z, the diversification of Mike Evans’ role and the improvements of tight end Cade Otton, the Bucs have the potential to be the best offense in the NFL in 2025 under new offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard.

Chris Godwin Can Now Solidify Himself In Franchise Record Books

Since coming into the NFL, Godwin has 613 catches for 7,266 yards and 39 touchdowns. All three of those marks rank second in team history, well behind running mate Mike Evans.

But now that Godwin is back in the fold, he has an opportunity to create more separation between himself and the third place pass-catchers. He is 149 catches ahead and five touchdowns clear of Jimmie Giles, as well as 2,248 yards ahead of Mark Carrier.

Chris Godwin’s New Deal Presents Win-Win For Both Parties

Bucs WR Chris Godwin – Photo by: USA Today

There was a belief that had Chris Godwin not suffered his ankle injury and continued his torrid pace, there is a good chance the Bucs would not have been able to retain him. Godwin’s production in 2024 had him trending toward a valuation of $30 million per year or more.

Because of the injury, Godwin’s second significant lower-body injury in the past five years, it was worth wondering what his value would be like on the open market. But in recent days, there’s been plenty of talk that he would get a significant deal, as he was one of the top (if not THE top) receivers remaining on the market.

As Rapoport said, he ended up leaving more money out there in order to remain with the team that drafted him back in 2017.

Durability has been a concern for Godwin, even outside of his 2021 torn ACL and this broken ankle. Godwin has only been able to play every game in a season in three of his eight seasons and he has averaged just 13.9 games per season.

Still, Godwin’s work ethic has never been in question. As a matter of fact, it launched into the stratosphere after microphones picked up what he had to say as he was being carted off the field after suffering his broken ankle this past year.

The three-year deal comes with a reported $45 million guaranteed for Godwin, who is now signing his second significant deal coming off of major injury. For the Bucs, by getting the deal done before his contract voids, they are able to save $11,318,000 in dead cap that gets pushed forward to 2026 and 2027. This gives the team more cap space to potentially pursue marquee external free agents to help complete an already talented roster.

Godwin was one of just two offensive starters who were pending free agents this spring. Now, both are back with Tampa Bay.