The One-Man Wrecking Crew

[Fletch59]

Due for a huge raise in 2024. Whatever he’s getting paid($1,826,796 in 2023), he’s probably worth at least ten times that much to any team that wants him. That would certainly first and foremost, be the Buccaneers. The he I’m referring to, if you haven’t already guessed, is Antoine Winfield Jr. “Mr. Everywhere”. He’s God-like — in that, he’s omnipresent on the defense. No one on either side of the ball, save the quarterback, maybe, does as many things and does them all well as Winfield. He’s like that guy you see playing all those instruments in a “one-man band on a street in Old Town. Never misses a beat, always right on time. Pass defense and run support, sacking the quarterback, forcing fumbles, snagging interceptions, it’s all in the guy’s resume, and he makes it look almost effortless. Winfield Jr. becomes a free agent in 2024, but he will surely be tagged by the team for at least 17 million — a discount. Winfield could easily command 20 million, or more, per season when he finally is unrestricted in free agency. The Golden Gopher became the best safety in the league this year and will get big money. Numbers don’t lie. Through 16 weeks A.W. has 110 tackles, 5 sacks, 5 forced fumbles (2nd), 4 fumbles recovered (1st), 3 interceptions, 12 passes defended (13th). No doubt, Winfield is a defensive coordinator’s dream. You move him anywhere, and he becomes the best, doing whatever it is. Let’s not forget how he played lights out as a rookie and started the playoffs and Super Bowl, while Devin White got a lot of attention here in his first few seasons. It was Winfield and David who racked up the important stats over the last couple of seasons. The Bucs’ Free Safety hasn’t even entered his prime years yet. Which means he will get even better than he is now. That’s scary to think about what that will look like. Jason Licht isn’t perfect, and he still makes mistakes in every draft. This 2nd-generation NFL player was about as right on as a GM can get, having the skills and ability of a first-rounder. The Bucs picked him up in the second round, snagging a bargain for one of the biggest feathers in Mr. Licht’s draft day war bonnet. It may be difficult to keep him in Tampa when he’s unrestricted. Winfield is one of those players that every team wants to bring in and sign. For now, I’m just glad he belongs to our side presently and will keep watching the show he puts on until such time as he departs. Go Bucs!!   The post The One-Man Wrecking Crew appeared first on Bucs Life.

Source: https://bucslifemedia.com/2023/12/30/th ... king-crew/