The Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ safety position is about one name: Antoine Winfield Jr., the first-team All-Pro.
Winfield is the key to the Bucs’ entire defensive backfield. While the rest of the position is in flux, little matters while he’s on the roster.
Moreso than any other Buccaneer, Winfield single-handedly prevented the Bucs from losing games last season, forcing game changing fumbles against Minnesota and Carolina. He led all NFL defenders in forced fumbles, finished top-three among safeties in pressures, pass breakups and sacks and finished top-ten in tackles and interceptions. He was easily the Bucs’ best defensive player in 2023.
Winfield was due to become a free agent this offseason, but the Bucs applied the franchise tag to the safety, almost certainly as a placeholder while they work out a long-term deal. While on the tag, Winfield’s cap number is $17.1 million, a figure that’s likely lower than his inevitable average yearly salary on a contract extension.
For as good a season Winfield had, Tampa Bay’s other starting safety, Ryan Neal, had a season to forget. He was an actual liability in coverage last year, allowing a perfect 158.3 passer rating when targeted. He was adequate in run support but far from a difference-maker. His return to Tampa Bay in 2024 is unlikely.
Backup safety Dee Delaney was a solid replacement in coverage but a downgrade against the run. Rookie Kaevon Merriweather was a key special teamer if typically uneven on the handful of snaps he played on defense.
The Bucs will need to find another starter this offseason, but with an All-Pro at the other safety spot, they will enjoy plenty of flexibility in finding him a new partner.
The most obvious free agent options are former Bucs safeties Jordan Whitehead and Mike Edwards. Whitehead is still a solid starting box safety with a penchant for spurts of big plays. Similarly, Edwards is starting caliber, though his strengths lean towards coverage and ball-hawking. Neither would break the bank and are known fits for Todd Bowles’ defense.
A riskier option is the New York Jets’ Chuck Clark. After six years in Baltimore, Clark was traded to New York but tore his ACL during training camp. Clark was a reliable safety before he hurt his knee and could revitalize his career in Tampa Bay.
Safety likely will not be a priority for the Bucs in the draft, but they could look to bolster their safety room in the middle and late rounds. Prime targets could be Utah’s 2023 safety tandem, Sione Vaki and Cole Bishop. Both are NFL-caliber athletes and were impressive at the NFL Combine. Vaki excels more in coverage while Bishop is a little stronger in run defense. Either would fit next to Winfield.
A dark horse candidate is Maryland’s Beau Brade. He is a bigger defensive back at 6’1″ and 210 pounds and plays with an aggressiveness to match. Though he is not as impressive an athlete as Vaki or Bishop, Brade fits the attitude profile of a Todd Bowles safety.
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