TAMPA, Fla. — After placing the franchise tag on All-Pro safety Antoine Winfield Jr. on March 5, the safety and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers agreed to a historic four-year contract on Monday, May 20 that makes him the highest-paid defensive back in the NFL.
Winfield Jr. earned first-team All-Pro honors for the first time in his career in 2023.
During the year, Winfield Jr. logged 122 tackles, 6.0 sacks, three interceptions, 12 passes defensed, six forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries, six tackles for loss and eight quarterback hits. He was the highest-graded safety in the NFL by Pro Football Focus, with a mark of 91.2. Since data became available in 1999, Winfield is the first defensive back to record at least five sacks and five forced fumbles in the same season.
The long-term deal for Winfield Jr. continues an impressive offseason in which the Buccaneers have rewarded their best players and kept together a roster that has won the last three NFC South championships.
“Antoine has exemplified the type of player and person we value in our organization,” said Buccaneers General Manager Jason Licht in a statement. “His work ethic, dedication, and performance have been nothing short of exceptional. Antoine has been a huge part of our success since we drafted him four years ago, and we are very much looking forward to his continued presence as one of the leaders of this team.”
In his first four seasons, Winfield has totaled 384 tackles, 15.0 sacks, 18 tackles for loss, 21 QB hits, seven interceptions, 27 passes defended, 11 forced fumbles and eight fumble recoveries. He has the most sacks by a defensive back in the NFL since 2020 and his total is already a franchise record for safeties.
“It’s hard to express what a player like Antoine Winfield Jr. means to our team,” said Head Coach Todd Bowles in a statement. “He's a dynamic player whose presence elevates our team every day and whose work ethic inspires those around him. Between his football IQ, his leadership, and his relentless drive, he sets the standard for what it means to be a Buccaneer.”
Winfield Jr. was voted into his first Pro Bowl after a 2021 season and despite wildly outpacing those stats in 2023 he was not named to the NFC's Pro Bowl roster.
This marks the second time in the last three years that the placement of the franchise tag has led to a long-term deal for one of the team's best players. The same chain of events happened with star wide receiver Chris Godwin in 2022.