The Bucs have continued their mission of re-signing the key players from their championship-winning roster with a report that they will now bring back wide receiver Antonio Brown on a one-year deal worth $3.1 million, per NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo and Tom Pelissero.

Throughout his prime Brown was arguably the most prolific receiver in the NFL. He had seven Pro Bowl selections and four First-Team All-Pro nominations in his first nine seasons. He also led the league in receptions twice, receiving yards twice and receiving touchdowns once. After a year spent away from football Brown returned to show that he isn’t nearly out of his prime yet. The 32-year-old veteran re-entered the league with Tampa Bay in 2020 and made his debut with the Bucs in Week 9 after serving an eight-game suspension. And then went on to finish the season with 483 yards and four touchdowns on 45 receptions, with all of his touchdowns coming over the final three games of Tampa Bay’s season.

Bucs QB Tom Brady and WR Antonio Brown – Photo by: USA Today

In the postseason, Brown hauled in another TD in the Bucs’ wild card win at Washington. But he suffered an injury the next week against the Saints that forced him out of the divisional round game. That injury kept him out of the NFC Championship Game against the Packers. Returning for Super Bowl LV against Kansas City, Brown had five catches for 22 yards and a touchdown. That score gave the Bucs a 21-6 halftime lead.

The return of Brown – along with Chris Godwin being franchise tagged – all but locks down a Bucs receiving corps that stands firmly as one of the most talented groups of pass-catchers in the league. In 2020 the Bucs ranked second in the league with 30.8 points per game, ninth with 382.9 offensive yards per game, third with 282.5 passing yards per game and third in the league with 3.6 touchdowns per game. That offense could get even stronger with the receivers unit now put back together.