The Bucs have signed Martin to a five-year deal worth in excess of $35 million, Ian Rappaport of NFL.com reports.
The signing comes two hours shy of Martin hitting the open market as a 27-year-old tailback coming off a 1,400-yard season, preventing Tampa from having to scour free agency or invest a high draft pick on a new tailback. As per Rappaport, the deal contains $15 million in guaranteed money, and averages $7.25 million over the first three seasons, with a maximum overall value of $42.5 million. Although the courtship between Martin and the Bucs looked somewhat shaky at times this offseason, he ultimately made good on his previously-stated preference to remain in Tampa, and secured a contract that would have been highly improbable a year ago at this time. His retention preserves a potentially potent young nucleus of Jameis Winston, Charles Sims, Mike Evans, Austin Seferian-Jenkins and Martin, and frees the Bucs up to address other needs in free agency and the upcoming draft.