Antoine Winfield Jr. has made a name for himself as one of the NFL’s best safeties over the last four years. And while he’s been a top-notch player at his position from 2020-2022, the Bucs defensive star taken things to a new level in 2023.

In 13 games, Winfield has 97 tackles (57 solo), four sacks, four forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, two interceptions and 11 pass breakups (a career high). He is Pro Football Focus’ highest-graded safety since Week 7, and his marks for the whole season have him firmly in the top tier of safeties across the league.

He has a 91.2 overall grade (tied for first among safeties), with marks as follows: 91.6 for run defense (second among safeties), 81.5 for tackling (ninth), 93.2 for pass rush (first) and 85.4 for coverage (fifth).

So, with all of that, is it possible that Antoine Winfield Jr. is still criminally underrated?

If Pro Bowl voting is anything to go by, the answer is a resounding yes. When the voting update dropped last week, Winfield wasn’t in the Top 10 among safeties. That’s insane, quite frankly, and it’s another example of the system being broken and the Pro Bowl itself being a joke.

Does Antoine Winfield Jr. Getting A Pro Bowl Distinction Really Even Matter?

Bucs FS Antoine WInfield Jr. and Falcons QB Desmond Ridder – Photo by: USA Today

The Pro Bowl has been devalued among fans for years now, so the first instinct may be to shrug off the fact that Antoine Winfield Jr. isn’t getting the votes he deserves this season. But as poor as the system may be and as gimmicky as the game has become, it still matters.

Of course, the experience of spending the week with the rest of the top players in the league can be cool for a player. Going to Orlando for the Pro Bowl festivities can be exciting for a player’s family. The overall idea of being recognized as one of the NFL’s best players can be meaningful, too.

But beyond all of that, the status of being a Pro Bowl selection can be huge in two areas: contract negotiations and Hall of Fame resumés.

For Antoine Winfield Jr., that first one is especially relevant right now. He’s in a contract year and while the Bucs are certainly going to make him a priority free agent, another Pro Bowl nod would give him some more negotiating power. He’s already a one-time Pro Bowler, having made it in 2021. But becoming a two-time Pro Bowler — in four years — could drive his value up even more than his play has.

For the other front — Hall of Fame resumé — it might be a little too early to talk about regarding Winfield. But at the same time, the young safety is playing at a level that other safeties haven’t matched over the last four years.

Bucs S Antoine Winfield Jr. – Photo by: USA Today

His 13 sacks are the most among defensive backs since 2020. His nine forced fumbles are the second-most among defensive backs since 2020, and he’s the first defensive back since 2018 with at least four forced fumbles and at least three fumble recoveries in a single season. That made him only the second player to accomplish that feat since 2010.

And the other big milestone for Winfield was that on Sunday, he joined Pro Football Hall of Famer Brian Dawkins as the only defensive backs since 2000 to record three-plus sacks, three-plus forced fumbles and three-plus fumble recoveries in a single season.

So, while it might be early to talk Hall of Fame for Antoine Winfield Jr., he’s doing things that other defensive backs aren’t. And he’s now done something that has only been done one other time in the last 23 years — and it was done by a Hall of Famer.

That’s why lack of Pro Bowl recognition could matter so much. If it comes down toward the end of his career and Winfield only has a Pro Bowl or two on his resume, that could be the thing that — rightfully or not — holds him back from Hall of Fame consideration.

Just take the way Bucs legendary linebacker Lavonte David is talked about, as an example.

For Antoine Winfield Jr., It’s Playoffs Over Pro Bowl

Bucs FS Antoine WInfield Jr. and Falcons QB Desmond Ridder – Photo by: USA Today

In the heat of his iconic 92-yard pick-six in the 2002 NFC Championship Game, Pro Football Hall of Famer and Bucs Ring of Honor member Ronde Barber had some memorable words about his and Brian Kelly’s Pro Bowl snubs. Because with that play, they were going to the Super Bowl in San Diego — not the Pro Bowl.

“Pro Bowl my ass, I’m going to San Diego!” Barber said.

After Sunday’s dramatic 29-25 win over the Falcons, it was easy to think back on those words from Barber. That’s because head coach Todd Bowles’ response to Antoine Winfield Jr.’s  current Pro Bowl standing echoed a similar sentiment.

“He’ll tell you it’s more important for us to try to get to the playoffs than to get to the Pro Bowl right now,” Bowles said. “He’s our bell cow. Even though he had some plays he’d want to have back today, he still made some plays in his own right. We follow him. We can live and die with ‘Win’ because he plays so good.”

In the winning locker room at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Winfield agreed with his head coach.

Bucs FS Antoine Winfield, Jr. and Chiefs WR Tyreek Hill – Photo by: USA Today

“Yeah, 100%. We want to win,” he said. “At the end of the day, we want to win. So we’re trying to get to the playoffs and make this run. You never know how it can end up. We just want a chance to make it there.”

As up and down as this season has been and as much as Tampa Bay doesn’t look like a contender, Winfield and the Bucs know from experience that getting to the playoffs is what matters. Because if you give yourself a chance by making it, it gives you a chance to make a special run to Super Bowl glory.

That’s what the Bucs did in 2020, and that got Antoine Winfield Jr. a Super Bowl ring in his rookie season. He made the Pro Bowl for the first time the following year, though the Bucs fell just short of the NFC Championship Game.

Which year do you think meant more to Winfield?