Tampa, Florida (AP) – The Tampa Bay Bucs have signed All-Pro safety Antoine Winfield, Jr. to a four-year, $84 million contract, making him the highest-paid defensive back in the National Football League.
On Monday, the Bucs made their deal public. Under the franchise tag, the 25-year-old, who as a rookie assisted the team in winning its second Super Bowl triumph, was scheduled to make little over $17 million the following season.
The signing extends a strong offseason for the team, as general manager Jason Licht prioritized keeping the core of a team that has won three straight NFC South titles.
The Bucs signed quarterback Baker Mayfield (three years, $115 million), career receiving leader Mike Evans (two years, $52 million), and veteran linebacker Lavonte David (one year, $10 million) in order to prevent those important players from leaving in free agency. In addition, the Bucs placed the franchise tag on Winfield in March.
Winfield was selected in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft, started right away, and as a rookie, he contributed to the Bucs, led by Tom Brady, winning the Super Bowl.
He is the NFL’s leading defensive back in terms of sacks (15), quarterback hits (21), forced fumbles (11) and fumble recoveries (eight) since joining the league. His father was Antoine Winfield, Sr., a brilliant cornerback for the Minnesota Vikings.
Winfield has four seasons in which Tampa Bay has made the playoffs. Along with being the team leader in interceptions in 2023, he became one of only four players since 2000 to have five or more sacks, five or more takeaways, and five or more forced fumbles in a single season, along with Terrell Suggs (2003), Justin Tuck (2010), and T.J. Watt (2019).
With Winfield signed to a long-term contract, Licht will likely focus on getting Pro Bowl left tackle Tristan Wirfs to sign a contract extension. Wirfs is expected to make $18.2 million in 2024 under the club’s fifth-year option.
