The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have signed star off-season acquisition Kellen Winslow to a monster six-year contract.

Winslow, acquired from the Cleveland Browns on the first day of the off-season, has put pen to paper on a deal worth a reported US dollars 36.1 million, potentially rising to USD42.1 million with incentives. Those figures would make him the highest-paid tight end in the NFL.

Winslow, a Pro Bowl selection in 2007, has averaged 5.0 receptions and 55.9 yards per game in his NFL career since being drafted sixth overall by Cleveland back in 2004.

The Bucs traded a second-round 2009 draft pick and a fifth-round 2010 pick to land Winslow from Cleveland, where a previous contract dispute with the front office made him expendable.

"It's a contract that we feel comfortable with as an organisation," said Bucs general manager Mark Dominik. "He's a 25 that's a rare commodity to acquire someone that talented via trade. You want to lock him up for a long period of time.

"We feel very comfortable with him in the short amount of time he's been here. We feel comfortable with him being a leader. He is already getting involved in the community and planning to bring his camp down here and his wife is starting to get involved, too."

Winslow went to the Pro Bowl in 2007 after making 82 catches for 1,106 yards and five touchdowns.