The least surprising news of the day for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Tuesday was placing the franchise tag on All-Pro safety Antoine Winfield Jr. just ahead of the league deadline.
While many other fan bases may have had hopes of Winfield hitting free agency, that was never going to happen.
Whether it was the franchise tag or a long-term contract extension, Winfield was always going to stay in Tampa Bay for the foreseeable future. Placing the tag on Winfield not only locks him in for the 2024 season, but also gives the Bucs more time to work out a new deal that should make Winfield the highest-paid safety in the NFL.
A second-round pick out of Minnesota in 2020, Winfield made an immediate impact for the Bucs, helping them win a Super Bowl as a rookie. He’s since established himself as arguably the best safety in the game, and at 25 years old, he’s just now entering the prime of his career.
Winfield has not only become a dynamic playmaker on the field, but also a respected leader in the locker room, something that has been extremely valuable as the Bucs have transitioned out of the Tom Brady era. Young players like Winfield stepping into those leadership roles has been a huge reason why the Bucs are currently riding a three-year streak of winning the NFC South, and should be the favorites to do it again next season.
So, while it’s understandable that fans across the league may be disappointed that Winfield won’t be available on the open market when free agency kicks off next week, the reality is that the Bucs were never going to let that happen under any circumstances.
The franchise tag will keep Winfield in Tampa Bay for the short-term, but don’t be surprised when a long-term extension is announced in the coming weeks or months that ensures he’ll remain a Buc for much longer.
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