Kevin Winston And The Bucs
April 8th, 2025
Penn State safety Kevin Winston.
No, he’s not related to Jameis, best Joe can tell.
Every Bucs defensive position needs help or could use quality depth.
Last week, after safety Mike Edwards decided to go back to Kansas City, the Bucs suddenly looked awfully thin there. You have Antoine Winfield (who hopefully returns somewhat close to what he was prior to getting injured) and then what? Maybe a nickel corner moving over there in Tykee Smith? Christian Izien?
Joe isn’t sure about a first-round pick at safety, but a guy who should be selected on the second night of the draft looked like he was a first-round pick before the 2024 season kicked off. That is Penn State safety Kevin Winston.
He’s can cover and he can hit.
Problem is, Winston blew out a knee in Penn State’s second game of last year, though as Bob McGinn of Go Long points out, Winston recovered to participate in Penn State’s pro day.
Suffered a partially torn ACL in Game 2 on Sept. 7. Returned to form March 28 at pro day and ran a strong 40. “He’s super talented,” one scout said. “The problem is, he didn’t play this year. He basically played in one game and 14 plays in a second game. He’s tall, long and really athletic. He can run. Got great cover skills. For a guy that’s long and lean he’s got no problem hitting. He’s a little bit out of control and needs some strength as a tackler.” Started 13 games in 2023. Third-year junior with 15 starts in 28 games. “I would think he goes there in the second,” a second scout said. “He was seen as a good player.” Finished with 90 tackles, five passes defensed and four turnover plays. Four-star recruit from Columbia, Md.
Mike Tanier, typing on his Substack site Too Deep Zone, points out Winston was on the cusp of being one of the better defenders in college football.
Winston began putting together an impressive scouting profile as a sophomore in 2023: quick-response run stopper, spicy tackler, speedy man-coverage defender with long arms to whip the ball away from his target.
Winston won the Chuck Bednarik Player of the Week Award in Penn State’s 2024 opener against West Virginia, with 12 total tackles and a forced fumble. [He] is a projection because of the injury and the lost season. But the 2023 tape is very good, and Winston, a team captain and the son of a high school administrator
… a little bit raw compared to Notre Dame’s Xavier Watts, and he is more of a box safety than a free safety, but I consider him a better prospect due to his physicality and size-speed traits.
Then, Tanier discovered a stat on Winston that has to have Bucs coach Todd Bowles heavy panting at night. Sports Info Solutions says Winston had zero missed tackles in 2023.
For a defensive back, that’s unheard of.
Winston told Tanier at the combine his philosophy on playing defense is, “When you hit a dude, he should feel you every time.” Now that’s a guy that Joe wants, a good ol’ fashioned thumper at safety who can also cover and play the run.
And we all know how much Bowles covets run defense.
A taste of Kevin Winston he’s game who I am probably higher on than most. He’s gonna be a steal if he falls to day 3. pic.twitter.com/0qGdqyCSl7
— The Real Ball Watcher (@thaprotest4) April 3, 2025
April 8th, 2025 at 10:39 am
“He’s a little bit out of control and needs some strength as a tackler.”
No thanks. Bowles cannot coach tackling to save his life.
There’s more missed tackles in the Bowles led defense than Jameis throws pick sixes.
Hard pass. Especially coming off an injury.
April 8th, 2025 at 10:50 am
Buc dawg the one thing you are forgetting is Bowles can develop DBs and has proven that with a long list of players who most are all starters on other teams if they’re still not with us. DB and ILB is what is needed badly. We need a few starters and depth in those areas. Dean will get hurt and there’s a ? Behind SVD name if he can stay healthy. Who’s going to start next to Winfield ? Gotta get some starters and depth pieces in those areas cause injuries will happen unfortunately
April 8th, 2025 at 10:58 am
bucsfan
What does that tell you when most of the players he developed are playing elsewhere?
It means they moved on to better coaching and are thriving away from Bowles.
Some of you on here act like a clipping of Bowles hair could be boiled and used as a cure for cancer.
He’s clearly lost his ability to scheme and coach a solid defense.
Once he’s gone we will reach our full potential.
28-27
April 8th, 2025 at 11:23 am
This is why I am not too fond of taking Starks in the 1st.
Winston, Watts, Ransom … are nice targets in the 2nd or 3rd.
In a lot of PFF mocks I have played with, Winston is there in the 3rd.
Ezeriraku
Revel
Winston… is generally what I come away with if I can. I would be very happy with that haul obviously and be looking for best ILB or DT/NT in round 4/5.
April 8th, 2025 at 11:30 am
No, no no for 1st round. 2nd round maybe. 3rd round OK.
April 8th, 2025 at 11:47 am
When fans like BucDawg are gone that is when Bucs reach their full potential. Sounds like you need to be Falcon fan I am sure you will love the way Raheem can coach defense
April 8th, 2025 at 11:51 am
Trade down a few slots in the 1st if possible and pick up an extra 3rd round pick.
1st – Edge
2nd – DT
3rd – ILB and CB
4th and 5th – S and WR based on BPA
7th – Another CB
April 8th, 2025 at 11:55 am
Love people changing their names
April 8th, 2025 at 11:58 am
@Woodman
If you think I hate Bowles you should have heard me when Raheem was the HC in Tampa.
How is my presence or absence going to effect the outcome of the Bucs in any shape or form? Riddle me that one.
However, Bowles going elsewhere will immediately have a dramatic positive effect
on the Bucs chances of another Superbowl.
I’ll be there saying told you so.
28-27
April 8th, 2025 at 12:01 pm
He’d be a great second or third round pick. We’ve had some luck picking guys who are actually hurt their last college season and dropped in the draft… like McMillan & Tucker.
I love Winfield Jr but he’s a little on the small side. I think that’s what allows him to be where he needs to be all the time, the speed and agility. But a longer safety who can still hit would be a great compliment.
Also, how does this make sense?
“He’s a little bit out of control and needs some strength as a tackler.” **Opinion statement**
AND
Sports Info Solutions says Winston had zero missed tackles in 2023.
If he’s a little out of control but never misses a tackle, I think I can live with that. As long as his cover skills are solid when they need to be. The knee injury is more scary in the fact that is it a sign of things to come with missing a lot of games down the line or is this a one time fluke injury?
I trust the the Licht draft team to do their due diligence with his medical history before picking this kid if that ends up happening.
April 8th, 2025 at 12:12 pm
Is he banned from all ride share services…..
April 8th, 2025 at 12:13 pm
I don’t care who they draft. It’s up to Licht. Sometimes it works out sometimes it doesn’t. But posters don’t influence what they do. So I don’t even try to guess just to beat my chest to say I knew it and told you so. I don’t even watch the draft. Who ever is drafted I will see here and how it turns out on the field.
April 8th, 2025 at 12:29 pm
Bob McGinn … ‘Third-year junior with 15 starts in 28 games. Didn’t play this year. He’s a little bit out of control and needs some strength as a tackler.”
Here’s a radical thought: stay at Penn State for 1 more year and show folks what you can really do. Coming out as a Junior after missing the previous year kinda reminds me of JTS … and the result will probably be quite similar. Hard pass.
April 8th, 2025 at 1:01 pm
Sounds like wood man just Loves him some mediocre and isn’t a True fan of the Buccaneers. He’s another that hasn’t got a clue about what success and what it’ TAKES to be a Super Bowl Winner!
Bowles Lousy coaching and decision makng has had us Crippled for some years now and the Faithful are Tired of the same Ole losing, sinking feeling of a having the Homer Simpson of the NFL lead us to ANOTHER .500 season of WASTED talent and NON TRAINED and NON COACHED men that DECLINE under Bowles.
Bowles has poor Diaby thinking that he was actually better under Bowles lousy teaching! Diaby is Now CONFUSED as to what he is doing!!! Funny thing is other have said the same thing that Bowles had his hands on and now they’re getting their applications ready to be delivery drivers!
Antwone Winfield was coached by his father and was an All Pro! Let’s HOPE that his lousy showing last year truly IS because of injury and not because he ignored his father’s teaching and Bowles got to him and CONFUSED the All Pro So Badly that he falls from grace like so many Bowles gets his hands on.
Let’s hear who has flourished and has achieved or whom is on a Hall of Fame trajectory under the tutelage of Bowles??? NAME ME JUST ONE…
Name me ONE GAME that we fought a quality opponent and it was CLOSE and we won DUE TO Bowles leadership? One that we were up against a Quality opponent!
And if you find me just one, THEN NAME ME TWO AND DEMONSTRATE TO ALL OF US THAT HE’S A COACH TO BE RESPECTED AND FEARED BY ANY OTHER TEAM BECAUSE BOWLES HAS THAT “IT” RUNNING THROUGH HIS BLOOD!
GOOD LUCK WITH THAT!!!
Tired of the mediocre’s out there feeling bad for him and trying to find some lousy defense for him BUT THE ONE THING YOU CAN NOT ARGUE is that he’s a Winning coach with a SOLID WINNING RECORD. Demonstrate to us All that he has DOMINATED THE DIVISION because of “HIS” leading and coaching skills!!! YA JUST CAN’T!!! We’ve HAD TO rely on others to win or lose for us THE ENTIRE TIME HE’S BEEN IN CHARGE!!!
And as far as the guy they hired, he’s NOT calling defensive plays!!! IN FACT THEY HAD A GAME MANAGER in place last year for Bowles!!! He IGNORED HER and took NON of her advice!!! So DON’T BOTHER looking like a fool and pretending they hired a DC! They Didn’t!!! It’s Bowles!
I’m TIRED of this guy wasting draft picks, I’m tired of talking about his constant failures, I’m tired of his pride, and I’m completely tired of this subject!
We NEED a Head Coach! A real one. Bowles isn’t talented enough to play the role of the head coach AND the DC and he’s not smart enough to realize that TRUTH!
If, if, IF he hired an “actual” DC and left himself to focus on being a “head coach”, THEN, Maybe.. THEN he could demonstrate that he has the good sense to be a leader and DO WHAT’S BEST FOR THE TEAM…, INSTEAD OF HIS EGO…. well THEN perhaps he’d be on the WINNING PATH OF SUCCESS. And since he’s not going to do that, He NEEDS TO GO so that we can Go to the Super Bowles like champions for a change Instead of sliding in backwards, barely making the playoffs, just like Homer Simpson!
Enough said
April 8th, 2025 at 1:14 pm
USC’s Jaylin Smith — a true darkhorse at slot corner and strong safety.
Underrated versatility, and built for that hybrid role.
April 8th, 2025 at 1:23 pm
Does not look like a value in the 2nd round to me.
Production counts and his 1 year production in the Big10 was just a little above average. Nothing that stood out.
Ok with projecting his size a little bit – but all the way to a 2nd round pick – not for me.
April 8th, 2025 at 1:28 pm
Hey Obvious:
If you fired Bowles after last season — who is the one coach that was hired this cycle of NFL coaches that you say will have a better record than Bowles and the Bucs this year.
If you can name me one – then go and name me two head coaches hired this offseason that will have better records than Todd Bowles and the Bucs this season.
I will bookmark your two choices and we will see if you are correct.
April 8th, 2025 at 2:00 pm
Pass.
And there are too many typos in this post. I had to stop reading because of them.
Happy to own up to typos, but not seeing any here. Perhaps you were slicing onions?–Joe
April 8th, 2025 at 2:22 pm
A big YES on Winston especially if he’s available in around 3 at pick 84. Their couple other safeties going in that range one is a guy from Ohio State and the other is from Texas I believe. How do they compare?
April 9th, 2025 at 1:28 am
Nice find Luv….its narrowing down….we’ll get there
April 9th, 2025 at 2:56 am
If Winston or Mukuba fall into day 3, grab ’em. Safety might not be top priority with all the other areas of defense needing some love, but extra depth is still important.
April 9th, 2025 at 6:57 am
Third round? maybe? Hoping we can land he and Revel both.
Go Bucs!
April 9th, 2025 at 4:36 pm
For what it’s worth, which undoubtedly isn’t much, I see him around in the 3rd round in a bunch of mocks that go that deep. If he’s there, they should take him. There’s nothing about his injury history, that I see, that say he shouldn’t be 100%, and like it’s been pointed out, he was widely considered a 1st rounder before injury.