The NFL's regular season is over, which for most teams, means it's time to start figuring out plans for the offseason.
NFL free agency is a huge part of the process, and along with the NFL Draft, it has everyone preparing for what should be a very active couple of months.
We've officially come up with our own contract projections for the NFL's top free agents that include context behind each player's 2023 season, the likelihood of a franchise tag, the projection itself, and the first-year cap hit for a team that's “all-in” and is needing to reduce that first-year hit in order to maximize their cap dollars.
So, without further ado, let's check out the projection for Tampa Bay Buccaneers safety, Antoine Winfield Jr.
Antoine Winfield Jr. 2024 Contract Projection
Winfield's impact on the field can hold up against any contemporary in any facet of safety play. He has consistently graded out as a plus run defender and showed himself to be more than capable as a slot corner, where he played extensively in 2022. Winfield is even a phenomenal pass rusher generating 33 pressures and 11 sacks in just 145 pass rush opportunities in his career. But it's as a top-down defender, working from single-high alignments, that he sets himself apart from everyone not named Jessie Bates.
Through his first four seasons, Winfield has registered 311 tackles, 21 passes defensed eight forced fumbles, and four interceptions. The forced fumbles plus interceptions total (12) is higher than Derwin James (8) and Jamal Adams (7) while trailing Jessie Bates III (14) and Minkah Fitzpatrick (17) through their first four years. Winfield's contract will be depressed due to his draft status (he was taken in the second round).
Winfield will likely reset the safety market in AAV ($19.67 million) although his deal will be comparatively less than James' at the time of signing as James' AAV represented over 9% of the salary cap in the year he signed where as Winfield's will come in at less than 8%.
Winfield is also a likely franchise tag candidate as he will be the best player eligible for the tag in Tampa Bay.
- Franchise Tag Likelihood: High
- 3 yrs $61.5M, $20.5M APY, $40M fully GTD
- Year One Cap Hit: $9 million
Be sure to check back in and around the site for more projections, as we will add more in the coming days and weeks.
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