Bucs Buy Three More Years of Chris Godwin

What They're Saying

Mike Giardi of Boston Sports Journal, on Friday: "Per league sources, Chris Godwin will be incredibly sought after, assuming he gets to free agency. Patriots expected to be the driver there. It's gonna cost more money than you would have thought (think in excess of $25 million per) despite the season-ending injury."

ESPN Bucs reporter Jenna Laine, in mid-February: "Sources told ESPN the Bucs absolutely want Godwin back and will do everything in their power to make that happen, with no concern about his recovery from a dislocated left ankle in Week 7."

2025 Fantasy Football Impact

So, was Giardi wrong about the money, or did Godwin just take less to stick with the Bucs?

Whatever the case, he's staying with the only NFL team he has ever played for. That shifts the focus entirely to his return from the injury.

Tampa Bay previously gave Godwin a three-year, $60 million contract coming off him tearing the ACL and MCL in his right knee late in 2021. So this latest contract doesn't necessarily mean the Bucs expect him to be back to full strength by Week 1.

We'll have to watch Godwin's progress through the offseason and summer training to make sure Godwin's on track for his usual role.

He's sitting in low-WR3 territory in early best ball ADP and was going even a little later than that ahead of last season.

Don't be surprised if Godwin continues to hover in that range, which would make him a fairly low-risk play in fantasy drafts if healthy.

Dynasty Impact

It's easier to project a healthy Godwin in the same place he's been playing.

Expect him to remain a solid-to-good fantasy asset. And the current injury status likely saps him of any immediate "sell" value.

Keeping Godwin around also helps QB Baker Mayfield for the remaining two years of his contract. Though Mayfield carries some sell-high potential off last season's TD explosion.

Other Winners & Losers

WR Jalen McMillan's the biggest loser here. He's unlikely to see regular fantasy relevance as long as both Godwin and Mike Evans are on the field. And that makes even a modest WR42 best ball ADP too pricey.

Watch or McMillan's ADP to dip now that Godwin has re-signed, though. He'll need to get at least into the 50s at the position to present some interest.

TE Cade Otton also saw his receptions spike around Godwin's injury last year. Even that temporary boost petered out before the end of the season, though.

Otton's current TE17 Underdog Fantasy ADP seems fair.