TAMPA — All-Pro safety Antoine Winfield, Jr. has agreed to a four-year, $84 million contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers that makes him the highest-paid defensive back in the NFL.

What You Need To Know

  • Safety Antoine Winfield, Bucs reach agreement on 4-year, $84 million contract

  • The deal, announced Monday by Tampa Bay, makes him the NFL's highest-paid defensive back

  • The team had slapped the franchise tag on Winfield in March as it tried to finish up the extension

  • The Bucs next are expected to try to secure left tackle Tristan Wirfs to a long-term deal 

The deal was announced on the team's website.

The 25-year-old, who as a rookie helped the team win its second Super Bowl championship, had been due to earn just over $17 million next season under the franchise tag.

Bucs General Manager Jason Licht’s top priority this offseason was to retain the core of a roster that’s won three consecutive NFC South titles.

In addition to placing the franchise tag on Winfield in March, the Bucs re-signed quarterback Baker Mayfield (three years, $115 million), career receiving leader Mike Evans (two years, $52 million) and veteran linebacker Lavonte David (one-year, $10 million) to keep those key players from leaving in free agency.

Winfield was a second-round draft pick in 2020, became an immediate starter and helped the Tom Brady-led Bucs win the Super Bowl as a rookie.

The son of former Minnesota Vikings standout cornerback Antoine Winfield, Sr., had 122 tackles last season and added six sacks, three interceptions, 12 passes defensed, six forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries, six tackles for loss and eight quarterback hits for a Bucs team that won the NFC South and a playoff game against the Philadelphia Eagles.

Winfield earned first-team Associated Press honors for the first time in his career in 2023.

Tampa Bay has made the playoffs in each of Winfield’s four seasons. In 2023, he led the team with three interceptions while also joining T.J. Watt (2019), Justin Tuck (2010) and Terrell Suggs (2003) as the only players since 2000 to have five-plus sacks (six), five-plus takeaways (seven) and five-plus forced fumbles (six) in the same season.

Now that a long-term deal is in place with Winfield, Licht figures to turn his attention to securing a contract extension with Pro Bowl left tackle Tristan Wirfs, who is scheduled to earn $18.2 million in 2024 under the club’s fifth-year option.

In his first four seasons, Winfield has amassed 384 tackles, 15 sacks, 18 tackles for loss, 21 quarterback hits, seven interceptions, 27 passes defensed, 11 forced fumbles and eight fumble recoveries.