Having been assigned a franchise tag for 2022, Chris Godwin has now agreed to a long-term contract extension with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. It’s a three-year deal worth $60 million, with $40 million guaranteed, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. Godwin played under the franchise tag in 2021 but will avoid doing so again this season. Let’s see what this new contract for Godwin means for both the player and the Buccaneers.
Chris Godwin signs three-year contract with Buccaneers
When Godwin tore the ACL in his right knee in Week 15, there were concerns over his future. Would a team be willing to risk signing a long-term extension with a player coming off a major knee injury? There were a number of potential options in play.
Godwin could have played on the franchise tag with the Buccaneers again in 2022. Alternatively, Tampa Bay could have allowed him to walk in free agency.
However, the Buccaneers appear to have looked beyond the risk by signing Godwin to a multi-year extension. Of course, the structure of the contract will be important. Any concerns the Buccaneers might have will show up when it comes to fully guaranteed money and potential outs they might have in the deal.
Godwin avoids playing on the franchise tag again in 2022
The Buccaneers used the franchise tender on Godwin ahead of the March 8 deadline. Had the two sides not agreed on an extension, Godwin would have counted for $19.2 million against the cap. Additionally, for Godwin, it would have meant another year of uncertainty.
Coming off major knee surgery, Godwin would have been left in a delicate situation. A season of struggles or another serious injury could have forced his value to dramatically decrease heading into the next offseason.
Instead, the Buccaneers likely reduced Godwin’s 2022 cap number while also avoiding the risk of him having a great 2022 season and further increasing his value ahead of next year.
Godwin has put together a solid career, but injuries have been a concern
Over the past four years, Godwin has posted more than 4,000 receiving yards and 28 receiving touchdowns. With that said, he’s missed at least two games in each of the last three seasons. In 2019, it was a hamstring injury that cost him the final two games of the campaign. In 2020, he missed four games in the first eight weeks due to a concussion, another hamstring injury, and a fractured index finger.
Godwin then played every game between Week 9 of the 2020 season and Week 15 of the 2021 season. Yet, he’d miss the final three weeks and the Buccaneers two playoff games due to the torn ACL. Still, the timing of the injury should mean Godwin has a good chance to return ahead of the start of the 2022 NFL season.
The Buccaneers will be hoping that they can keep Godwin on the field as he plays under this new contract. The duo of Godwin and Mike Evans will provide a fantastic pair of targets for Tom Brady.
