Antoine Winfield Jr. has reset the market for defensive backs after agreeing to a monster extension with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Winfield agreed to a four-year, $84.1 million contract extension with Tampa Bay, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The agreement makes Winfield the highest-paid defensive back in NFL history, and the first time a safety has held that distinction.
A second-round pick in the 2020 draft, Winfield has quickly blossomed into an elite defensive back. He was an All-Pro selection for the first time in 2023, a year in which he tallied three interceptions and led the league with six forced fumbles. He had previously been going into the final year of his rookie contract.
Some would argue Winfield is still a bit under the radar, since he curiously missed out on the Pro Bowl last year. The Buccaneers clearly see his value, though, to give him a contract like this one.
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