Antoine Winfield No. 3
November 5th, 2020
Bucs S Antoine Winfield.
If you look at the trades and free-agent signings Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht made this offseason, that would be a career for some general managers.
In short, Licht has had a haul. And that’s not even factoring in the draft.
Hall of Fame general manager Bill Polian believes if you can draft at least two strong starters (to go along with two productive starters) each year, you build a Super Bowl contender.
Well, consider Licht’s first two picks: disco-dancing right tackle Tristan Wirfs and safety Antoine Winfield. Those guys may just make a Pro Bowl their rookie seasons.
Josh Edwards of CBS Sports believes Winfield is the third-best rookie in the NFL.
This is not an overreaction to his game-saving pass deflection against the Giants on Monday Night Football. Winfield had been making plays all season long. I had to watch All-22 film just to make sure there weren’t three players wearing No. 31 on the field at all times.
The only two rookies Edwards ranked ahead of Winfield are Joe Burrow and Justin Herbert.
Weeks ago Joe read an NFL analyst’s claim that Wirfs is the best right tackle in the game. No, not rookie. Best right tackle starting in the NFL. Edwards isn’t far behind that analysis.
Edwards has Wirfs ranked as the sixth-best rookie in 2020.
Tristan Wirfs has been healthy and productive since entering the NFL, which is why he has the advantage over the likes of Mekhi Becton and Jedrick Wills. Although selected fourth of the elite offensive tackle grouping, Wirfs is playing like the best.
The only time Joe heard Wirfs’ name against the Giants was when the BSPN broadcast crew took a break from talking Antonio Brown to mention Wirfs was drafted along with Winfield.
When you don’t hear a tackle’s name mentioned, you know he’s doing a good job.
There are many layers to why this Bucs team is so good. The play of a pair of rookies at key positions is just one.
November 5th, 2020 at 8:14 am
Licht has been damn good at his job lately and I can’t even remember the last time that I made fun of him.
November 5th, 2020 at 8:17 am
Yes, thank you Licht.
Go Bucs
November 5th, 2020 at 8:19 am
But i thought winfield was too short when he was drafted according to the armchair gms on this site.
November 5th, 2020 at 8:41 am
Unbelievable how lucky he was there – how in the world did so many teams pass on him? His tape was phenomenal, bloodlines are obvious- we hit the jackpot with him
Wirfs reminds me of Paul Gruber – MW guy, just does his job everyday and is in the top tier of his group
Please keep drafting this profile on the OL!!!!
November 5th, 2020 at 8:48 am
They both are amazing rookies. Without the usual pre-season and OTAs. Learning on the job was the only way – and they continue to lean every game. Stars in the making.
November 5th, 2020 at 8:49 am
Webster, he showed some growth since 😉
November 5th, 2020 at 9:00 am
I think Todd Bowles deserves some credit on the Winfield pick & others….
November 5th, 2020 at 9:06 am
Ive seen Chinn from Carolina ranked higher than Winfield Jr
November 5th, 2020 at 9:06 am
Shoe in for DROY.
November 5th, 2020 at 9:52 am
I think it is more of Arians, Bowles and the new staff than it is Licht. Licht is a bad GM; it just happens that he automatically gets better once Arians arrives? I mean look at the losing franchise he built before Bowles and Arians showed up. How is VH3 playing this year?
November 5th, 2020 at 9:58 am
Tampa Bay Bucs fan
Yes, many of us were concerned about his height. Seems like a pretty logical thing to worry about for safety when receivers are averaging 6’3”.
No big deal.
He has been fantastic, although, the entire secondary needs to stop letting receivers get over top of them!
All that said, Winfield and Wirfs are definitely top-five rookies. Being behind Burrow and Herbert isn’t too shabby, they are both playing fantastic.
November 5th, 2020 at 10:00 am
2019 haul is looking pretty damn good too!
DBs- Bunting, Dean, Edwards
WR- Miller
Soon to be all-pro LB Devin White
November 5th, 2020 at 10:03 am
2020-
Studs: Wirfs, Winfield
Jury is out still but both show a lot of promise:
WR Tyler Johnson
RB Vaughn
November 5th, 2020 at 10:06 am
2018
DBs Davis Whitehead
OL Cappa
DT Vita Vea
RB Rojo
Jury out
WR Watson
November 5th, 2020 at 10:09 am
Basically added depth at wide receiver, revamped the running back position, added offensive line, completely remade the secondary.
And got the best nose tackle in football.
In 3 drafts.
Outstanding.
I imagine next draft needs to focus more on D lineman
November 5th, 2020 at 10:18 am
Can everyone stop worrying about accolades and stats, height and weight and perceptions? Nothing matters except winning.
November 5th, 2020 at 11:23 am
Are you saying Jason our GM struck gold this year in the offseason??? I am plain and simple this guy performed a miracle.
November 5th, 2020 at 11:25 am
Thankfully we stuck with him even though Jameis was a bust. He was the Brady connection and his search for receivers for Winston paid off being the best suited landing spot for Brady when it was time.
November 5th, 2020 at 12:04 pm
Tyler Johnson is doing great. His problem is having 3 pro bowl WRs ahead of him.
November 5th, 2020 at 12:32 pm
Wirfs for the next 10 YEARS!!!
November 5th, 2020 at 12:45 pm
I think Jason Licht dug up the body of Bill Wash and ate it during the off-season, he has been killing it lately.
November 5th, 2020 at 12:58 pm
Best first two picks in Lichts career 2018 was close though.
November 5th, 2020 at 2:09 pm
Gm of the year
November 5th, 2020 at 2:18 pm
Defensive Rookie of the Year
November 5th, 2020 at 2:22 pm
I never realized how much Denmar Dotson was — heh heh heh — “holding” us back……
BAZINGA!
November 5th, 2020 at 2:27 pm
I don’t hear anyone complaining about the size of our coaching staff now. Heh
November 5th, 2020 at 3:38 pm
Please not “disco-dancing Tristan Wirfs” Joe(s), I love your site. Been coming here for years. I get that ya’ll have created a brand that is successful. Good for you guys. I may be alone on this, but I don’t come here for your silly descriptions of players ON EVERY POST. I come here in spite of it.
BTW, what happened to “nutcase/cancer Antonio Brown?” You get a cease and desist from the big boys? Not mocking. I just noted that it ceased all of a sudden. Keep up the good work.
November 5th, 2020 at 3:44 pm
Probably would have if Joe didn’t take the initiative.
He’s still a “furniture-tossing” receiver. 🙂
November 5th, 2020 at 3:46 pm
Hey, it was Wirfs who made the TikTok video of himself dancing to disco music. Joe’s not the culprit here.
November 5th, 2020 at 4:00 pm
Hey Joe(s), once again, I love your site. It’s got a personality all its own. You also don’t beat your own chest when your blind squirrel finds a nut. If you know who I mean, and I think you do. It’s just exhausting with the same old descriptions every day. Maybe its because I DO come here to read updates all the time. It just gets tiring.