Tampa Bay Buccaneers Likely to Use Franchise Tag on Star Safety Antoine Winfield Jr.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have their work cut out for them now that the 2024 NFL offseason is upon us. They have four main free agents that they are looking to bring back into the fold in QB Baker Mayfield, WR Mike Evans, S Antoine Winfield Jr., and LB Lavonte David.
One aspect of free agency that the Buccaneers have at their disposal is the franchise tag that they can place on any player entering free agency. There are however two types of franchise tags an organization can place on a player - the exclusive franchise tag which guarantees the unrestricted free agent a top-five salary at their position, but the player can't negotiate with other teams, or the non-exclusive tag that allows the player to negotiate other deals with teams, but his current team has the opportunity to match it or receive two first-round picks as compensation.
After not placing a player under the franchise tag in 2023, according to Tampa Bay Times' Rick Stroud, the Buccaneers will likely use their tag this year in the hopes of giving them more time to discuss contract negotiations with star safety Antoine Winfield Jr.
Placing perhaps the best safety in the NFL on the franchise tag would be a smart move for the Buccaneers as the hit on the salary cap would be far less than if they were to place it on the likes of WR Mike Evans or QB Baker Mayfield - ultimately removing them from the possibility of getting the tag and forcing the two to hit free agency unless a deal can be reached beforehand.
The move to tag Winfield Jr. would give the Bucs more negotiating time on a contract extension while they look to retain the likes of the aforementioned other free agents.
Winfield Jr. is coming off the best season of his young career notching 122 tackles and six sacks while leading the NFL with six forced fumbles, recovering four, and also intercepting three passes over the course of the 2023 season. Bringing him back would be a huge lift to a Buccaneers' defense that is looking to get younger and faster on the defensive side of the ball.
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