Source: Bucs WR Godwin signs franchise tender

• Covered the Buccaneers since 2009
• Joined ESPN in 2016

TAMPA, Fla. — Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin has signed his $15.9 million franchise tender for 2021, a source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

The move does not preclude the Bucs and Godwin from reaching an agreement on a long-term extension, however, which sources say is the goal. They have until July 15 to negotiate a long-term deal or Godwin will play under the tag for the 2021 season.

A long-term deal could give the Bucs more salary-cap relief, as the tag counts $15.9 million against the salary cap in a year in which teams have less to spend because of the 8% cap decrease — just the second time in NFL history the cap has dropped since it was introduced in 1994.

To accommodate the drop, the Bucs, like other teams, have structured their new contracts signed this year to have higher cap numbers after 2021, when the number is expected to rise because of new TV deals.

A third-round draft pick by the Bucs in 2017, Godwin reached the Pro Bowl in 2019 after finishing with 1,333 receiving yards — third most in the NFL despite missing the final two games of the regular season — establishing himself as one of the most consistent receivers in the league while moving inside into the “big slot” role in Bruce Arians’ offense.

Godwin, 25, dealt with several injuries in 2020 — hamstring, concussion and a fractured finger — resulting in four missed games. But he finished with four touchdowns in the final three games of the regular season and led the Bucs with 232 receiving yards and a touchdown in the postseason.

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