From the time he first arrived in Santa Clara last year, wide receiver Marquise Goodwin felt he had landed in the right place.
After four ho-hum seasons in Buffalo, Goodwin desired to play for an organization with a longstanding winning tradition. He yearned for an environment that valued personal relationships, from the front office down to the players. He wanted a fresh start.
San Francisco checked those boxes.
“I knew I wanted to be a 49er since I stepped foot on the facility,” Goodwin told Murph & Mac on Friday morning.
Now he has that security. On Thursday, the 49ers announced they have extended the wide receiver’s contract for three years. His deal is worth up to $20.3 million, including $10 million guaranteed, according to ESPN’s Josina Anderson.
“The suns shines a little brighter, the bird chirps a little louder, the grass is a little greener today,” Goodwin said on Friday morning. “I knew I wanted to expand and continue to be here and be a part of this franchise. When my agent proposed that deal to me and took it to the office, I was ecstatic because I knew that I had another opportunity to play ball, first and foremost. And secondly, to be a 49er for a long time.”
Last offseason, the 49ers signed Goodwin to a two-year, $6 million deal, which now seems like a major bargain. The speedy receiver achieved career highs of 56 receptions and 962 yards in 2017.
Goodwin replaced Pierre Garcon after he sustained a season-ending injury eight games into the season. The trajectory of the 49ers season flipped once former Patriots quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo was inserted as the starter, and Goodwin’s production soared. The 27-year-old receiver totaled 29 catches for 384 yards, including two 100-yard performances (and a 99 yard performance), in Garoppolo’s five starts, all of which resulted in wins.
So why did the Garoppolo-Goodwin connection blossom so quickly?
“He just throws it,” Goodwin said on Friday morning. “That’s it. He gives me an opportunity, and when you get an opportunity and make a play, you allow yourself for more opportunities. So as long as he keeps throwing it, we will keep having the chemistry, and I will make plays.”
The 49ers now boast a solid core of receivers for Garoppolo. Goodwin’s speed will complement Garcon, a big, physical red zone target, and the shifty Trent Taylor will look to build off a solid rookie campaign. While adding to an already solid receiving corps may not be the 49ers’ No. 1 priority, they will have options.
Sammy Watkins, Allen Robinson, and Marqise Lee headline a group of proven free agent receivers that could supplement the 49ers aerial attack. Free agency starts next Wednesday, March 14. San Francisco still has more than $70 million in cap space — the fifth most in the league.
Goodwin has a recruiting pitch to his future counterparts.
“Hey, all the free agents out there,” Goodwin said. “If you want to win, then come to 49er-land.”
Listen to the full interview below. To hear Goodwin on his new contract, skip forward to the 1:01 mark.