Earlier this week a report by ESPN’s Adam Schefter that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and safety Antoine Winfield Jr stated the two sides were closing in on a deal that would make Winfield Jr the highest paid safety in the league. This report had all the makings of Winfield Jr’s agent being the source.
Thursday, general manager Jason Licht held his pre-draft press conference. The majority of the questions from the media focused on the upcoming draft, but that’s not all that was discussed. The topic of the status of contract extensions for Winfield Jr AND tackle Tristan Wirfs came up. Licht, as usual didn’t duck the question.
“We’ve had really good discussions there,” Licht said, via transcripts from the team. “Once again, it’s like the same thing when we were at the combine talking about Baker [Mayfield] and Mike [Evans] and Lavonte [David]. We really want them here, we want them here long term, I think they want to be here long term. We’ve had a good track record with getting things done. I feel pretty good about things getting done.”
Licht and his staff have made quite the reputation at retaining talen, aka keeping the band together. This appears to be the new “Buccaneer way”. Look for deals with Wirfs and Winfield Jr to get done sooner than later.
The Bucs put the franchise tag on Winfield Jr back in early March. That tag (non-exclusive) would pay him $17.1 million in 2024. Schefter is reporting this new long-term deal would be in excess of $19 million per season. That number would eclipse the current highest paid safety Derwin James.
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