Front Office Suits, Scouts, Coaches, Players Rank Antoine Winfield 10th-Best Among Safeties
July 12th, 2023
There is mad respect around the NFL for Buccaneers safety Antoine Winfield, Jr., who spent most of his 2022 season playing out of position at nickel cornerback.
It’s the time of year to view ESPN’s results of Jeremy Fowler surveying about 80 NFL team executives, scouts, coaches and players for their rankings of the top 10 players at each position.
Safety rankings were released today behind a paywall and Winfield checked in at No. 10 in the league. Joe thinks that’s especially impressive considering Winfield didn’t have the greatest season, dealt with a concussion and an injury, and he was a part-time safety.
10. Antoine Winfield Jr.
Highest ranking: 4 | Lowest ranking: Unranked
Age: 24 | Last year’s ranking: 9Winfield won a tiebreaker with Seattle’s Quandre Diggs and Baltimore’s Marcus Williams.
His value comes with versatility — Winfield can play with range in the post and can work from the slot as a nickel defender. Seven of his 80 tackles last season went for a loss. He added four sacks and one interception.
“Elite tackler, super instinctive, great ball skills and ability to turn the ball over,” an NFC exec said. “Very good athlete — just lacks some height [5-foot-9].”
Winfield played more in the slot in 2022 but expects to return to free safety — where he played in his first two years — this season.
What an X-factor Winfield is for this fall. He’s a Pro Bowl-caliber young player who takes his craft incredibly seriously. Now he’s back in a comfortable position — his Year 4 in the Todd Bowles defense with a bunch of veterans playing around him.
If Joe were wagering on which current big-name Bucs player will have the best season overall in 2023, Joe would roll with Winfield.
July 12th, 2023 at 4:15 pm
Winfield’s forced fumble in the 2020 NFC Divisional game against the Aints has to be one of the top ten plays in Bucs history.
July 12th, 2023 at 4:19 pm
He will be our defensive MVP!
July 12th, 2023 at 4:27 pm
He, not Devin, is the QB of the defense and our best overall player on D
July 12th, 2023 at 4:33 pm
Had no idea he was only 5’9″
July 12th, 2023 at 5:03 pm
I’m not even ranked 10th, in my household of 2, not counting dogs.
I need to look into that.
July 12th, 2023 at 5:18 pm
Just keep his head out of collisions and he should have a great season.
July 12th, 2023 at 5:21 pm
AWjr plays how you’d expect a former pro players kid to play. Always prepared, hardly ever out of position and routinely fundamentally sound like it’s force of habit.
July 12th, 2023 at 5:28 pm
And to think Dungy was a gopher too.
July 12th, 2023 at 5:32 pm
The best tackling DB on the team. Better technical tackler than at least one of our linebackers.
July 12th, 2023 at 5:33 pm
‘If Joe were wagering on which current big-name Bucs player will have the best season overall in 2023, Joe would roll with Winfield.’
Nope, I’m going with Kyle Trask. Oh wait, forgot the ‘big-name player’ part. OK I’ll switch that to Keshawn Vaughn. Rats, missed that ‘big-name’ part again. Chris Godwin. Yup, going with Chris Godwin.
July 12th, 2023 at 5:42 pm
Dude has the most famous peace sign in the history of peace signs.
July 12th, 2023 at 6:40 pm
He’s not short he’s average height
July 12th, 2023 at 6:54 pm
Antoine Winfield, Jr. kicks arse!
best free safety in the league!
July 14th, 2023 at 6:13 am
National disrespect of Tampa continues.
He is top five in my book.
Go Bucs!
July 14th, 2023 at 6:15 am
BTW enough with Fowler…lost all respect for anything from him.
Go Bucs!