TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — As expected, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have franchise-tagged star safety Antoine Winfield Jr. while the two sides work to hammer out a long-term deal, according to multiple reports.
On Tuesday, ESPN’s Adam Schefter announced the news on X, formerly known as Twitter, stating that the franchise tag is just a “placeholder” until a long-term deal is met.
Fox Sports’ Greg Auman reported that Winfield Jr. will receive $17.1 million in 2024. According to PewterReport, the Bucs’ are “making progress” on a new contract for Winfield Jr. that “should make him the NFL’s highest-paid safety.”
The announcement comes a day after Tampa Bay resigned star wide receiver Mike Evans to a two-year, $52 million deal on Monday, closing the extension right before the NFL free agency period begins.
Evans’ agent confirmed the Bucs agreed to the deal, which averages $26 million per season.
According to Evans’ agent, the deal is the largest for a wide receiver of his age on his third contract with the team. Evans’ agent worked to reach the deal after both sides failed to reach an extension that would make the 30-year-old receiver a “Buc for life” before the 2023-24 season kicked off.
With two of the Bucs’ star players locked down, Tampa Bay is looking to reach a contract extension with quarterback Baker Mayfield, who led the team to a winning record and playoff run in his first year.
Mayfield is set to enter free agency next week if a deal cannot be reached.
Since entering the league in 2020, Winfield Jr. leads all defensive backs in sacks (15), quarterback hits (21), forced fumbles (11) and fumble recoveries (eight). He is also tied for seventh in takeaways with 15. Winfield Jr. also leads the NFL among all players with 19 forced fumbles plus fumble recoveries since 2020.
