Which Bucs Free Agent HAS To Be Re-Signed?

The Bucs have five high-priority free agents they’d like to bring back for 2024 and, chances are, they’ll be able to re-sign all five.

As of the end of January, the feeling is that the Bucs will be well positioned to run it back with Comeback Player of the Year candidate quarterback Baker Mayfield, Pro Bowl wide receiver Mike Evans, legendary linebacker Lavonte David, first-team All-Pro safety Antoine Winfield Jr. and nearly automatic kicker Chase McLaughlin. All five should still be in red, white and pewter in 2024. They’ve earned that.

But of the five, who is the pending free agent the Bucs simply cannot afford to lose?

In an article this week, Pro Football Focus’ Brad Spielberger answered that question for each team in the league. For the Bucs, his answer — which feels like the right one — was Antoine Winfield Jr.

Here’s what Spielberger wrote about the first-team All-Pro safety:

“Winfield was arguably the top safety in the NFL in 2023. He offers as much versatility on the backend as any defensive back, coming down in the box to make plays in the run game coupled with outstanding ball production in coverage.

“Winfield’s 16.3% forced incompletion rate ranked seventh among safeties on the season, and his 26 defensive stops were a top-15 mark on the year.”

You’d be hard pressed to find anyone willing to agree with any of that. The Bucs defense has a high-end stars at every level of the defense.

Up front, it’s a former Pro Bowl selection in Vita Vea. In the middle of the defense, it’s a perennially underrated, future Bucs Ring of Honor member in linebacker Lavonte David. And in the secondary, it’s safety Antoine Winfield Jr.

Vea signed a four-year contract extension in January of 2022. David deserves to be back, but at 34 years old he’s likely to be back on a one-year deal. So that makes Winfield, at 25 years old, the obvious pick when looking at who to shell out long-term money to on this defense.

Antoine Winfield Jr. Took His Game To New Heights For The Bucs In 2023

Bucs S Antoine Winfield Jr. and Falcons QB Desmond Ridder – Photo by: USA Today

Antoine Winfield Jr. balled out as a rookie in 2020. After being a second-round pick out of Minnesota, he was a starter on the Bucs’ Super Bowl LV team as a first-year player. He made his first Pro Bowl in 2021. And in 2022, he took on a new role in Todd Bowles’ defense as he was asked to play primarily from the slot.

But after moving back to his natural safety position in 2023, Winfield took everything to the next level. And he did so in a contract year.

The Bucs’ fourth-year safety recorded career highs in several categories, including tackles. His 122 tackles (76 solo), were the second-most on the team this season. Winfield also had six sacks, which led all defensive backs in the league this year, along with an NFL-high six forced fumbles. The former second-round pick also had four fumble recoveries, three interceptions and 12 passes defensed.

When the Bucs defense needed a play, Winfield was there to make it. He saved two touchdowns on the year with Superman-like efforts that saw him track down a ball carrier just before they reached the goal line and knock the ball loose and into the end zone for a touchback. Without the second of those two plays, it’s very possible the Bucs wouldn’t have made the playoffs.

Bucs FS Antoine Winfield Jr.and OLB Markees Watts – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Whether it was a forced fumble, a sack or a game-sealing interception, Winfield was the Bucs’ best playmaker on defense all year long.

Along with his All-Pro selection, Winfield won two NFC Defensive Player of the Week awards this season and NFC Defensive Player of the Month honors in December/January. He was also the Bucs’ Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee.

So yes, while the Bucs can, should and likely will bring back most — if not all — of Winfield, Baker Mayfield, Mike Evans, Lavonte David, and Chase McLaughlin, Winfield stands out as the one who is an absolute must-keep. Whether it’s on the franchise tag or with a new long-term contract, Tampa Bay needs No. 31 back to lead the defense in 2024.