The Tampa Bay Buccaneers placed the franchise tag on safety Antoine Winfield Jr., the team announced Tuesday. Earlier in the day, a team source said the Buccaneers and Winfield “were too far apart” to get a deal done.
We have designated Antoine Winfield Jr. as our franchise player. pic.twitter.com/GqzKKnN1Jk
— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) March 5, 2024
The 24-year-old safety had an immediate impact on Tampa Bay’s defense after being taken in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft. He’s earned one Pro Bowl nod (2021) and a first-team All-Pro distinction (2023).
Winfield picked up his All-Pro status last season by compiling 122 tackles, six sacks, a league-leading six forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries, three interceptions and 12 pass defenses. In his four seasons with Tampa Bay, Winfield has amassed 384 tackles, 27 pass defenses, 11 forced fumbles and eight fumble recoveries.
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Just reading his traditional statistics it’s easy to point to Winfield as one of the best safeties in the NFL. Predictably, Winfield’s case holds up when diving in on advanced metrics as well.
Winfield was the No. 1 safety and No. 2 defensive back last season in “Total Points Saved,” via Sports Info Solutions. Only Dallas Cowboys cornerback DaRon Bland ranked ahead of Winfield by one point, and Bland had five touchdowns off nine interceptions. The fact Winfield nearly topped Bland displays the prowess of the Tampa Bay safety.
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(Photo: Cliff Welch / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)