With Jacksonville defensive end Josh Allen signing a five-year, $150-million contract extension with the Jaguars, only two players who received the franchise tag this year have yet to sign long-term contract extensions. The two are Bucs All-Pro free safety Antoine Winfield Jr. and Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins.
While Higgins has requested a trade out of Cincinnati this offseason, Winfield is perfectly content to stick with Tampa Bay for the long haul, as he’s a perfect fit in Todd Bowles’ defense. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that the Bucs are optimistic that a new deal can be reached this offseason before the July 15 deadline.
Pewter Report has confirmed Schefter’s report.
If Winfield and the Bucs don’t reach an agreement on a long-term extension by the July 15 deadline, then the fifth-year defensive back will be forced to play on his one-year, $17.123 million contract this season and an extension won’t be permitted until next offseason. Winfield is expected to reset the safety market with a contract worth $20 million or more per year.
Currently, Los Angeles Chargers safety Derwin James makes the most, with his contract averaging $19 million per year. James signed a five-year extension worth $76 million and includes $38,584,471 in fully guaranteed money.
Winfield is coming off a career season in Tampa Bay. In 17 games during the 2023 season, Winfield totaled 122 tackles (76 solo), six sacks, six forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries, three interceptions and 12 passes defensed – all career highs. His six forced fumbles had him tied for the most in the NFL, plus he was the first defensive back since 1999 with 5.0+ sacks and 5+ forced fumbles in a single season. Not only that, but he was just the fourth player since 2000 with 5.0+ sacks, 5+ takeaways and 5+ forced fumbles in a single season.
Good News For Antoine Winfield Jr.’s Draft Mate, Tristan Wirfs
Pewter Report has learned that not only are the Bucs making progress with a contract extension for All-Pro free safety Antoine Winfield Jr., but the team is also working towards a long-term contract extension for three-time Pro Bowl left tackle Tristan Wirfs this offseason.
Wirfs was Tampa Bay’s first-round draft pick in 2020 while Winfield was selected in the second round that year. Both players became instant impact starters and helped the Bucs win Super Bowl LV during their rookie season.
The Bucs picked up Wirfs’ fifth-year option and he’s scheduled to make $18,606,582 in 2024 unless the team signs him to an extension before the start of the season. But unlike Winfield, who has a hard deadline of July 15 to get a new deal done, there is no deadline to extend Wirfs’ contract.
The Bucs have just $488,099 in salary cap space, according to OverTheCap.com, so the team will need to clear at least $10 million in cap room to sign the rookie draft class as well as have some room left over for more signings in case of in-season injuries. This can be accomplished by re-signing Winfield and/or Wirfs to contract extensions that lower their 2024 salary cap numbers with roster bonuses that are prorated and spread into future years.
Like Winfield, Wirfs is expected to reset the market at his position, too. Houston left tackle Laremy Tunsil is the highest-paid at his position after he signed a three-year, $75 million contract extension worth $25 million per year, according to OverTheCap.com. Wirfs is expected to make over $25 million per season when his extension is eventually done later this offseason.
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