Former Gophers safety Antoine Winfield has reportedly signed a new deal with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers that makes him not only the highest-paid safety in football but the highest-paid defensive back in league history.
Tampa Bay had placed the franchise tag on Winfield Jr. earlier this offseason. He was set to make $17.123 million as part of that tag. Now, according to multiple reporters who are citing Winfield’s agent, Winfield is signing a four-year, $84.1 million ($21 million AAV) with $45 million guaranteed.
Winfield has been a stud since the Bucs selected him in the second round of the 2020 draft. The 5-foot-9 safety has registered seven interceptions, 15 sacks, 11 forced fumbles and eight fumble recoveries in four seasons roaming the Tampa Bay secondary.
In that time, he has won one Super Bowl and been named to one Pro Bowl (2021) while earning First-Team All-Pro honors in 2023.
Sources: The #Bucs and All-Pro S  Antoine Winfield Jr have struck a deal and for the first time in NFL history, the highest paid DB is a safety!
Winfield gets a 4-year contract worth $84.1M with $45M fully guaranteed in a deal done by @DavidMulugheta of @AthletesFirst. đź’° đź’° đź’° pic.twitter.com/mU1yyHwe27
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) May 13, 2024
Winfield finished the 2023 season as the No. 1-graded safety in the NFL, per Pro Football Focus, and his eight pass breakups ranked second among safeties.
In four seasons with the Gophers, Winfield totaled 172 tackles, nine interceptions, four sacks, three fumble recoveries and two forced fumbles.
