The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are placing the franchise tag on safety Antoine Winfield Jr., according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

“Buccaneers officially are placing their franchise tag on S Antoine Winfield Jr., but really as a placeholder until the two sides can hammer out a long-term deal that they continue to work on and want to get done, per sources,” Schefter posted March 5 on X, formerly Twitter.

Each team had until 4 p.m. Eastern time March 5 to place its franchise tag on a player. Winfield’s tag is expected to cost the Buccaneers $17.1 million, according to NFL.com.

The Tampa Bay Times’ Rick Stroud likened the move to the tag placed on wide receiver Chris Godwin.

“It’s similar to the move the Bucs made the second time they applied the tag to receiver Chris Godwin in 2022. Godwin eventually was signed to a three-year, $60 million contract less than two weeks after receiving the designation,” Stroud wrote on March 5. “The Bucs could have used the franchise player tag on quarterback Baker Mayfield. But that would have counted $38.3 million against the salary cap immediately.”

What Will Antoine Winfield Cost?
Placing the franchise tag on Winfield will allow the Buccaneers a way to buy time as they work on a long-term agreement with him.

Fox Sports’ Greg Auman speculated that Winfield could eventually become the “first $20m safety.”

“As Bucs work with Antoine Winfield on a deal today, the biggest safety contract to beat is Derwin James getting four years, $76 million from Chargers, or $19m per year. He’ll likely top that in average salary, and could top the $42m guaranteed he got. Could be first $20m safety,” Auman posted March 5 on X.

As Bucs work with Antoine Winfield on a deal today, the biggest safety contract to beat is Derwin James getting four years, $76 million from Chargers, or $19m per year. He’ll likely top that in average salary, and could top the $42m guaranteed he got. Could be first $20m safety.

Winfield has been one of the top safeties in the NFL since he was drafted by the Bucs in 2020. The second-round pick out of Minnesota has been a pillar of strength for Tampa Bay’s defense. He also played a very large role in the Buccaneers’ Super Bowl 31-9 victory over the Chiefs to cap off the 2020 season.

As stellar as Winfield’s performance was in 2020, the 2023 season was his best one yet. With a total of 122 tackles, 6 sacks, 6 forced fumbles, 4 fumble recoveries, and 3 interceptions Winfield’s season read a bit like a video game stat line.

A large majority of Winfield’s big plays came at crucial times in games. For instance, Winfield made a touchdown-saving tackle to force a fumble at the 1-yard line at the end of the Bucs vs. division-rival Carolina Panthers game on January 7, 2024.

Winfield Sets the Tone
Retaining a player of Winfield’s caliber surely allows the team confidence heading into 2024. Regardless, Buccaneers fans get to celebrate the return of Winfield, even if it’s just for one season with the franchise tag.

With Winfield remaining in Tampa Bay, the Buccaneers defense takes another step closer to being back in its entirety from the 2023 season. While pending free agents like Lavonte David and Devin White are still looming, the Buccaneers are in a much better position to start negotiations with the linebackers.

General Manager Jason Licht has had a very successful off-season thus far, and tagging Winfield will allow for even more flexibility going into the draft. This move allows Tampa to focus more on “depth picks” out of the upcoming draft, and less on “starter picks.” The future is absolutely looking bright for the Buccaneers’ 2024 season.