Chris Godwin signing grade: Buccaneers get an 'A' for keeping the band together
With Tee Higgins franchise tagged, Chris Godwin was arguably the top wide receiver available in free agency. He lasted roughly 11 minutes into the legal tampering period before returning home.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers signed their longtime wideout to a three-year contract worth $66 million with $44 million guaranteed, per Ian Rapoport. It's a familiar deal to Tampa executives; they signed Godwin's veteran running mate Mike Evans to a two-year, $41 million deal last offseason. It's also a statement to the rest of the NFC South. The Bucs don't see Baker Mayfield's career year in 2024 as a one-off.
Mayfield thrived even with Godwin missing 10 games due to injury. His 4,500 passing yards and 41 touchdowns were each career highs. By keeping Godwin (along with a returning Evans and a rising Jalen McMillan), it's clear Tampa feels this is all sustainable.
Godwin is 29 years old and coming off a broken ankle, but there's reason to believe he can be a dynamic force over the length of this contract. Former offensive coordinator Liam Coen (now head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars) devised an offense that created room for the veteran near the line of scrimmage. His average target distance fell to a career low 5.6 yards per target but his yards-after-catch over expected (YACOE) rose to a career high 2.24. His seven yards after catch per reception were also a personal record; he thrived in the space created by Tampa's threats downfield and forced opposing defenses to pick their poison when it came to double coverage.
That led to more than 500 receiving yards in those seven games and the promise of 1,000-yard seasons to come. What's more; his $22 million annual average salary ranks just 18th in the NFL among wideouts. In a year where teams have a lot of money to throw around and few sure thing free agents on the market, this is a bargain. Godwin took a hometown discount to stay in Florida. He's capable of an impact that stretches far beyond this good-not-great paycheck.
Grade: A
This article originally appeared on For The Win: Chris Godwin signing grade: Is Buccaneers reunion worthy of an 'A'?
