Carolina Panthers safety Charles Godfrey agreed to a five-year, $27.5 million contract extension Friday, according to a source with knowledge of the situation. He is guaranteed $12.4 million, the source said.
The team announced the extension on its Twitter account but did not disclose the terms.
"He's on top of the world, and he's thrilled because this is what he wanted," Doug Hendrickson, Godfrey's agent, told The Associated Press. "He really loves the new defense and the staff and everything about the organization. They stepped up big time."
Godfrey, 25, started all 16 games last season and finished with 70 tackles. His rookie contract was set to expire after the season.
One of the team's six captains, Godfrey is the latest Panthers defender to earn a contract extension of at least five years, joining defensive end Charles Johnson and linebackers James Anderson, Jon Beason and Thomas Davis as the team makes a concerted effort to keep its core players.
A third-round draft pick out of Iowa in the 2008 NFLÂ Draft, Godfrey has started 43 games over the past three seasons with the Panthers and has 157 tackles, seven interceptions and six forced fumbles during that span. He led the team last season with five interceptions.
The Associated Press contributed to this report
