Chris Godwin agrees to huge contract extension with Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers re-signed Chris Godwin to a new deal, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. The deal is for three years and worth $66 million.

Godwin only played seven games this past season after getting injured about halfway through. He finished the year with 50 catches, 576 yards, five touchdowns and 11.5 yards per catch.

Over the course of his career, Godwin has 579 catches, 7,266 yards, 39 touchdowns and 12.5 yards per catch in eight seasons. He’s played his entire career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Godwin was a third round pick in 2017 out of Penn State and developed into one of the better receivers in the NFL. During his contract year, many thought his value would fall due to injury in 2024.

However, the new deal signified the Bucs’ commitment to one of their top playmakers. He’ll be with the team, potentially, for the rest of his career.

Now, Godwin can run it back with fellow WR Mike Evans and QB Baker Mayfield. The Bucs won the NFC South in 2024, but lost in the NFC Wild Card round to the Washington Commanders.

Godwin was injured on a hip drop tackle by Baltimore Ravens’ linebacker Roquan Smith back in October. Smith was later fined.

The NFL has sought to outlaw the hip-drop tackle from the game, citing an injury rate 20-25 times higher than that of other tackles.

Under the NFL rulebook, a hip-drop tackle is defined as a technique where the defender either grabs or wraps a runner with both hands or arms, then unweighting himself by “swiveling and dropping his hips and/or lower body, landing on and trapping the runner’s leg(s) at or below the knee.”