Tampa Bay Buccaneers safety Antoine Winfield Jr. is one of two players who received the franchise tag this offseason and has yet to negotiate a long-term extension. There is optimism a deal will get done, according to a report from Adam Schefter. The Buccaneers will soon make Winfield Jr. the highest-paid safety in the league.
Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht applied the franchise tag to Winfield Jr. in early March. If Winfield Jr. plays out the 2024 campaign on the tag, he'd earn a fully guaranteed salary of $17.1 million, per Spotrac. It's a few million less than the former Minnesota Golden Gopher standout would earn via an extension.
Jacksonville Jaguars pass rusher Josh Allen signed a five-year extension worth $150 million on Wednesday. Allen's deal leaves Winfield Jr. and Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins as the last remaining franchise tag players without a long-term deal. Higgins has requested a trade. Allen plays a different position, but his extension could add a sense of urgency to Winfield Jr.'s discussions.
Winfield Jr. enjoyed a career-best campaign in 2023. The Columbus, Ohio native recorded personal highs in tackles (122), pass breakups (12), sacks (6.0), fumbles forced (6), fumbles recovered (4), and interceptions (3). He earned All-Pro honors for the first time and finished sixth in NFL Defensive Player of the Year voting as a result. Winfield Jr. was the league's premier safety this past season. He's well-positioned to negotiate a lucrative extension.
Los Angeles Chargers safety Derwin James is currently the highest-paid player at the position. James signed a four-year extension worth $76.5 million in August of 2022. James earns $19.1 million annually, and his deal contained $42 million in guarantees. The salary cap has experienced a significant increase since then. Winfield Jr. should have little problem surpassing all of those numbers. He's going to be the highest-paid safety in NFL history.
Winfield Jr. could sign a four-year extension worth something in the approximate neighborhood of $86 million with upward of $45 million in guarantees. Winfield Jr. would earn $21.5 million annually via such a multi-year proposal. Licht would make Winfield Jr. the first safety to earn $20-plus million annually.
The Buccaneers entered the offseason with a few contracts to sort out. Starting quarterback Baker Mayfield signed a three-year extension worth $100 million after leading the team to a postseason win last year. Future Hall of Fame wide receiver Mike Evans was retained via a two-year, $41 million contract that played out in the public eye. With pen to paper on those deals, Winfield Jr.'s impending extension must take priority for Licht.
Winfield Jr. will spearhead a new-look Buccaneers secondary in 2024. He’s been reunited with Jordan Whitehead at safety, who was his primary partner in the defensive backfield in 2020 and 2021. Wifield Jr. is a perfect fit for Todd Bowles’ scheme, and the familiar surroundings should lead to another fantastic season in 2024.
The Buccaneers have a mid-July deadline to sign Winfield Jr. to an extension before he's forced to play on the franchise tag. An extension should be completed well before the deadline marks its merciless arrival. The Buccaneers will soon sign Winfield Jr. to a record-shattering extension.
