Buccaneers star safety Antoine Winfield Jr makes NFL history with 4-year contract extension

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The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have made it a point this offseason to extend their most important players, and safety Antoine Winfield Jr. made NFL history with his contract extension on Monday. 

Winfield reached an agreement with the Bucs on a four-year, $84.1 million deal that makes him the highest-paid defensive back in NFL history, according to multiple reports. He is the first safety in NFL history to receive this honor as well. 

Winfield will be getting $45 million guaranteed in this deal, which is also the most ever given to a safety, per ESPN. 

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Antoine Winfield Jr. attends the 13th Annual NFL Honors at Resorts World Theatre on Feb. 8, 2024, in Las Vegas. (Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic)

A 2023 All-Pro and Super Bowl champion in 2021, Winfield has grown into one of the best safeties in the NFL over his rookie contract, which is why the Bucs slapped him with the franchise tag this offseason. 

But it wasn’t because they were just trying to keep him for one more year. GM Jason Licht knows how important Winfield is to head coach Todd Bowles’ defense, and the franchise tag was merely a way to extend the time to reach a long-term deal.

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Winfield is now the eighth player hit with the franchise tag this offseason to reach a long-term extension with his team. Only Cincinnati Bengals star receiver Tee Higgins, who requested a trade from the franchise, hasn’t reached an extension. 

Antoine Winfield Jr. of the Buccaneers warms up for the New Orleans Saints game at Raymond James Stadium on Dec. 31, 2023, in Tampa, Florida. (Julio