The next contract for Tampa Bay Buccaneers star Antoine Winfield Jr. is expected to “reset the safety market,” according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.

The Buccaneers and Winfield will continue negotiating a new deal for the team’s star safety until the franchise tag deadline of 4 p.m. ET on March 5, according to Fowler.

While the expectation is that Buccaneers safety Antoine Winfield Jr. will receive the franchise tag by Tuesday absent a new deal, the two sides will continue talking over the coming days in hopes of an extension. There’s a feeling from people inside the league I’ve spoken to that Winfield would reset the safety market in a new deal, either with Tampa Bay or as a free agent. He was that good last season, finishing with 122 tackles, 6 sacks, 6 forced fumbles and 3 interceptions.
If the two sides are unable to agree to a deal by that deadline, Winfield is a candidate for the tag, which Over the Cap projects at $16.2 million for 2024.

Winfield was snubbed from the Pro Bowl roster during a 2023 season in which he led the league with six forced fumbles.

He added 122 tackles, eight quarterback hits, 12 passes defensed, three defensive interceptions and 6.0 sacks in the most dominant season of his career.

If Winfield returns to Tampa Bay in 2024, it will be on a deal significantly larger than the four-year, $7.3 million rookie contract he just finished.

The biggest safety contracts in the NFL currently belong to the Los Angeles Chargers’ Derwin James ($19 million AAV) and the Pittsburgh Steelers’ Minkah Fitzpatrick ($18.2 million AAV.) Winfield could surpass them both.

Winfield isn’t the only player the Buccaneers have to worry about bringing back at a higher cost next year. Tampa Bay also needs to make decisions regarding pending free agents quarterback Baker Mayfield, wide receiver Mike Evans and linebacker Lavonte David.

“If the Bucs can secure Winfield and possibly Mayfield over the next few days, what’s to preclude them from franchise-tagging Evans at that point?” Fowler wrote.

Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times reported last month that the Buccaneers are “expected” to use the tag on the 25-year-old safety, but that could potentially change if negotiations with Mayfield or Evans fall through.