The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have once again built a team capable of winning the NFC South, but this roster has quickly become an aging unit that isn't playing up to what their contracts demand.
The Bucs were the only franchise with two members of CBS Sports' All-Overpaid team, with Chris Godwin and Cade Otton taking home the wide receiver and tight end slots, respectively. Godwin is on a three-year, $66 million contract, while Otton signed a three-year, $30 million contract.
Jason Licht has done quite a lot of good in Tampa Bay, but his roster is starting to show some warts. Almost overnight, Licht's Bucs are an old team full of some very expensive players. Worst of all, this team seems a tier or two below many of the Super Bowl contenders.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers WR Chris Godwin, TE Cade Otton named most overpaid in NFL
Godwin was considered underpaid just one year ago, as he turned down a bigger offer from the New England Patriots to return to the Bucs. However, Godwin struggled with injuries once again, as he has played just 16 of a possible 34 games.
Godwin's yards-per-game was chopped in half during the 2025 season, as he went from 82.3 in 2024 to 40.0 in 2025. With Mike Evans in San Francisco and Emeka Egbuka picked in the first round, Tampa seems to be in the process of pushing the old guard out in favor of a new generation.
Otton is not a bad tight end, but the Bucs are paying an above-average price for a thoroughly average player. Otton, who has just 11 touchdowns in four years, had just one touchdown in all of last season despite the Godwin injury and has recorded under 10 yards per catch in three of his four pro seasons.
With the Bucs in a contract dispute with quarterback Baker Mayfield, this team could be in for a very long and involved rebuild if they are unable to keep their beloved quarterback in town.
The Buccaneers will have to make a tough decision on Godwin next offseason, as his contract includes a team option after year two. In all likelihood, they’ll decline the option and he’ll become a free agent. Otton’s contract, similarly, is a three-year deal, with only the first two years guaranteed.
It’s possible neither of these players make it through their contracts. It would be a tough way to part ways with one guy who has a Super Bowl ring and another who has been a quality Day 3 pick, but when they aren't producing like elite players and are being paid as such, it puts the front office in a tough situation.
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