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Why Chris Godwin chose the Bucs over the Patriots (1:15)

Louis Riddick and Dan Orlovsky discuss Chris Godwin choosing to return to the Buccaneers over joining the Patriots in NFL free agency. (1:15)

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are re-signing free agent wide receiver Chris Godwin to a three-year contract, sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Monday.

The deal includes two seasons that are fully guaranteed, sources told ESPN.

Godwin, 29, suffered a dislocated left ankle in the Bucs’ Week 7 game, an injury that required surgery and ended his 2024 season. Before that, he was having, as teammate and franchise-record holder Mike Evans put it, an “All-Pro season.”

Through the first seven weeks, Godwin enjoyed arguably the best season of his career, leading the league with 50 catches. His 576 receiving yards was second most in the league, and his five touchdown catches was tied for third.

This isn’t Godwin’s first time suffering a significant injury just before becoming an unrestricted free agent. In Week 15 of the 2021 season, Godwin suffered a torn ACL and MCL in his right knee, but the Bucs still offered him a three-year deal worth $60 million. Godwin rewarded their faith with two consecutive 1,000-yard seasons after the injury, with four in his eight-year career.

ReceiverYds/Slot*Cooper Kupp3,757Tyler Boyd3,647CeeDee Lamb3,361Chris Godwin3,199* Since 2019

When Godwin wasn’t on the field playing last season, he helped rookie wide receiver Jalen McMillan step into a bigger role, developing a daily Jugs machine routine for him and communicating the team’s expectations after early struggles. McMillan finished the year with eight touchdowns, including a league-leading seven in Weeks 14-18.

Both the Bucs and Godwin’s representatives expressed to ESPN a desire to get a new deal done, and they had time on their side, agreeing to move the automatic void date of Feb. 17 for his 2025 contract to March 12.

Godwin has 579 receptions for 7,266 yards and 41 touchdowns (39 receiving) in eight seasons.