The Bucs have quite a few players who are in contract years right now or will be heading into contract years in 2024. Perhaps none of them are making a better case for themselves to get a big-money contract extension than safety Antoine Winfield Jr.

Of course, Tristan Wirfs has seamlessly made the transition to left tackle this season and will get his own big pay day. But that was always coming for Wirfs. Winfield may have always been in line for an extension himself, but his play right now is on another level — and he’s only making himself more money. He’s been the Bucs’ MVP so far, and that’s hard to deny.

Through seven games this season, the fourth-year safety out of Minnesota is well on his way to his second career Pro Bowl selection as well as his first-ever All-Pro honors. And there’s no doubt that anyone who watches him play on a weekly basis will make the case that he deserves some Defensive Player of the Year consideration at this rate.

Bucs S Antoine Winfield Jr. and Falcons QB Desmond Ridder – Photo by: USA Today

So far this season, Winfield has 46 tackles (25 solo stops), two sacks, six passes defensed, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. He seems to make an impact play every week.

In Week 1, he had a sack-fumble and fumble recovery in a win over the Vikings. Back in Week 4, Winfield had a sack, forced fumble and fumble recovery in a win at the Saints as well.

He followed that up with big plays in the last two weeks, with the first being a forced fumble on Desmond Ridder just as the Atlanta quarterback was about to cross the goal line. Winfield chased him down and punched the ball out, resulting in a touchback that gave Tampa Bay the ball and kept the team in the game.

Then on Thursday night in a loss to the Bills, he helped get the Bucs back in a game they had no business being in. Down 10-3 at the time and being completely outplayed, Tampa Bay quickly tied it up thanks to a short field that was given to them in large part by Winfield. He came flying in on a blitz and batted Josh Allen’s pass up in the air, leaving it for Will Gholston to intercept. The offense cashed in and tied the game at 10. It was just another big-time play for the first-time captain.

Todd Bowles Has High Praise For Antoine Winfield Jr.

Bucs S Antoine Winfield Jr. DT Calijah Kancey and ILB Devin White – Photo by: USA Today

The Bucs have lost three straight games and four of their last five. They’re headed in the wrong direction, and given Antoine Winfield Jr.’s weekly performances, it’s a safe bet that Todd Bowles would love it if everyone was on No. 31’s level right now.

On Friday morning, Bowles had plenty of praise for his top safety.

“The way he’s playing right now is unbelievable,” Bowles said. “For being so young of a player – he’s still early in his career – the things he’s doing right now is kind of like a seventh or eighth year player that’s doing it that’s been around for a while. The energy he has, the freshness he brings to work everyday and out on the field is just unbelievable.”

Winfield is only 25 years old, but he’s done a lot in his short career so far. And he’s right back at home this year after Bowles returned him to his natural free safety position following a year in which he spent most of his time at the nickel cornerback spot.

And if you ask Bowles, it’s not just one thing that Antoine Winfield Jr. has that makes him special.

“It’s a combination of all – skills, intelligence, upbringing, football background, all the coaches he had over his career,” Bowles said. “I think it’s a testament to everybody that helped him along the way.”