Antoine Winfield Jr.'s 2024 free agency 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

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