The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have been very busy this offseason, and they may not be done.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Buccaneers are working toward a deal with Antoine Winfield Jr. that would make him the highest-paid safety in football.
Tampa Bay slapped a franchise tag on Winfield earlier this offseason, preventing him from reaching free agency. He is one of just two franchised players who have yet to sign, with the other being Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins.
Unlike Higgins, however, it appears that Winfield is closing in on a deal with the Bucs.
Winfield is coming off of a spectacular 2023 campaign in which he played every game and racked up 122 tackles, six sacks, three interceptions, six forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries and 12 passes defended. Somehow, he didn’t make the Pro Bowl, but he earned a First-Team All-Pro selection.
The 25-year-old, who played his collegiate football at the University of Minnesota, was selected by the Buccaneers in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft.
He appeared in every contest during his rookie year, finishing with 94 tackles, three sacks, a pick, a couple of forced fumbles, a fumble recovery and six passes defended.
The following season, Winfield made a trip to the Pro Bowl after registering 88 tackles, a pair of sacks, two interceptions, two forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries and six passes defended.
Then, in 2022, the Columbus, Oh. native totaled 80 tackles, four sacks, a pick and a forced fumble.
The Buccaneers have done a great job of retaining their own players this offseason, and it looks like they are about to lock up another one in Winfield.
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