Chris Godwin’s new contract has no exceptions for his ankle injury

   

After the Buccaneers selected Ohio State receiver Emeka Egbuka with the 19th pick in the 2025 draft, some assumed that the Bucs were concerned about veteran receiver Chris Godwin’s availability for the start of the season.

Chris Godwin's new contract has no exceptions for his ankle injury - NBC  Sports

If the team has such concerns, those concerns didn’t make their way into the three-year, $66 million contract Godwin signed with the Buccaneers in March.

PFT has obtained and reviewed the contract. There’s no language regarding the injury. Nothing that, for example, conditions any of the $20.745 million 2025 roster bonus on passing a physical. (The second and final installment is due in six days.) Nothing that creates an exception for any aggravation of the injury or related condition.

Maybe the Bucs had no choice, given that Godwin had a better financial offer on the table from the Patriots. And while the Patriots ultimately signed receiver Stefon Diggs to a deal containing protections for the team against his torn ACL, Diggs didn’t have many (or maybe any) other options. Godwin possibly was able to leverage the interest of the Patriots and Buccaneers into a deal that didn’t protect the team against the injury that predated the contract.

Still, the contract becomes an important piece of tangible evidence to counter the notion that the Bucs drafted Egbuka because they’re concerned about Godwin’s health. If they were sufficiently concerned to use a first-round pick on his short-term replacement, why would they have committed $44 million in guarantees to Godwin?

 

So why Egbuka? Well, Mike Evans is entering his 12th season, and he’ll be 32 in August. They’ll need to have a replacement ready to go, at some point.

Besides, the Bucs don’t exactly have many pressing roster needs. They were able to take the best available player when they were on the clock. Which they did.

Nhu Quynh -
The Latest

Lions Trade Pitch Brings Shedeur Sanders to Detroit, Swaps $5.7M QB

Uncategory -7 giờ

This trade pitch sends Shedeur Sanders to the Detroit Lions to trained up to be Jared Goff's backup quarterback. One of the craziest parts of the 2025 draft was talked-about quarterback Shedeur Sanders of the Colorado Buffaloes not getting drafted until the last ...

Former Cowboys Star Has Major Praise for Steelers’ Aaron Rodgers Deal

Uncategory -7 giờ

It took a while, but the Pittsburgh Steelers have finally completed their quest to land Aaron Rodgers. Earlier this week, the veteran quarterback reportedly inked a one-year deal to join the Pennsylvania-based franchise. Although the move was expected, it still came ...

Will 49ers Trade Brandon Aiyuk to Commanders for Terry McLaurin?

Uncategory -7 giờ

Terry McLaurin seems unhappy with the Commanders and Brandon Aiyuk recently unfollowed the 49ers on Instagram. Should San Francisco and Washington swap the two wide receivers? Aiyuk's best friend is Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels. They played together at Arizona State. This offseason, Aiyuk ...

Dodgers Activating Michael Kopech, Kirby Yates Off Injured List in Massive Roster Move

Uncategory -7 giờ

The Los Angeles Dodgers plan to activate both Michael Kopech and Kirby Yates off the injured list ahead of Saturday’s game against the St. Louis Cardinals.  The return of both star relievers is monumental for a Dodgers bullpen that has been ...

Tigers news: A.J. Hinch's strong 4-word message after win over Cubs

Uncategory -7 giờ

The Detroit Tigers took down the Chicago Cubs in front of a packed crowd and national audience, sending a clear message to the rest of Major League Baseball. Manager A.J. Hinch made his stance clear after the game during an interview with The Detroit ...