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The Tampa Bay Buccaneers made a big decision to franchise tag star safety Antoine Winfield Jr. earlier this offseason, and their decision to do so has paid off in a big way for both sides. On Monday afternoon, Winfield and the Buccaneers agreed to terms on a record-breaking four-year, $84.1 million extension that makes Winfield the highest paid defensive back in NFL history, while also ensuring he will be leading Tampa Bay's secondary for years to come.
Antoine Winfield Jr. is now the highest-paid defensive back in NFL history after he and the Bucs reached agreement on a 4-year, $84.1M deal, per sources. It’s the first time in modern NFL history that a safety has set this mark.
Deal negotiated and confirmed by David Mulugheta… pic.twitter.com/wMi4MtxWuJ
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) May 13, 2024
As one of the brightest young safeties in the game, Winfield was expected to reset the market at the position one way or another this offseason. The Buccaneers wisely didn't let him hit the open market, as they franchise-tagged him in order to give themselves more time to come to terms on an extension. Now, they have done just that, and in quite a big way nonetheless, as not only is the $84.1 million figure a record-breaker, but so is the $45 million in guarantees, as that's the most guaranteed money a safety has ever received in NFL history as well.
In an offseason where other big names such as Baker Mayfield, Mike Evans, and Lavonte David have landed extensions to stay with the team, Winfield becomes the latest key player to do so. After making a run to the Divisional Round of the playoffs last season, the Bucs clearly want to keep their best players in town, and they have continued to do just that by signing Winfield to this massive deal.
Buccaneers lock up defensive leader in Antoine Winfield Jr.
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Ever since being selected with the 45th overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, Winfield has been a key piece of the Buccaneers secondary. He started all 16 games as a rookie, finishing fourth in the Defensive Rookie of the Year race, before earning his first (and somehow only) Pro Bowl selection in 2021.
Winfield struggled in 2022, but he put together his true breakout campaign in 2023, emerging as an all-around force at the back of Tampa Bay's defense (122 tackles, six sacks, 6 TFL, 8 QB Hits, 3 INT, 12 PD, 6 FF, 4 FR). There's not much Winfield can't do on the football field, and the Buccaneers wisely decided to unleash him in 2023, as he earned first-team All-Pro honors for his strong play during the Bucs surprise 2023 campaign.
After playing like the best safety in the NFL last year, the Buccaneers are now paying Winfield like a player deserving of that title. As he enters his age 26 season, Winfield will be entering the prime of his career, so it's only right he gets a massive extension based on what he did last season. With this big deal comes big expectations, and he's going to have to continue to deliver if Tampa Bay intends on proving last season's success wasn't just a fluke.
Whichever way you slice it, this is a huge deal for all parties involved, and if Winfield can keep on playing like he did in 2024, he will somehow manage to make this massive price tag look like a steal for the Buccaneers. Tampa Bay has set out to keep their top players in town this offseason, and they have made quite a bang with this extension for Winfield.
