No one should accuse the Bucs of having an untalented defense. Tampa Bay’s defensive unit has been getting some regular love recently during a series of ESPN polls of NFL coaches, scouts, players and executives. Six of the Bucs 11 projected starters on defense have either made ESPN’s Top 10 for their respective position groups or finished just outside of the top-10. One of those six is Bucs safety Antoine Winfield Jr.

Bucs Young Safety Has Established Himself

Following in the footsteps of his famous father, Antoine Winfield Jr. quickly established himself as one of the best safeties in the league even as early as his rookie season. The Bucs young defender was an integral part of a defense that helped the team reach the Super Bowl in 2020 shortly after being drafted. He and the rest of the defense followed that performance up with a legendary showing in the Super Bowl, holding a Kansas City offense that led the league in points per game in the regular season to just nine.

Bucs DB Antoine Winfield, Jr. – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Winfield Jr. followed that stellar rookie season up with an even better 2021, posting 88 tackles, six passes defensed, two interceptions, two forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries. He also earned an elite 86.1 grade from Pro Football Focus. In 2022 Winfield Jr. was asked to move to the slot primarily. He responded with continued quality play with another six passes defensed and three interceptions.

Winfield Jr. can do just about anything that is asked of him playing well as a blitzer as well as a run defender. He is a sound tackler who can also cover one-on-one from the slot. But he is truly at his best when he is playing zone coverage from the centerfield position in single high coverage. He will be asked to do that more in 2023 as he returns to his roots as a true free safety.

League Shows Respect For Bucs FS

While Antoine Winfield Jr. dropped a spot from his ninth place ranking in 2022, the comments provided for him can only be described as glowing. Her is the snippet ESPN provided about him:

Winfield won a tiebreaker with Seattle’s Quandre Diggs and Baltimore’s Marcus Williams.

His value comes with versatility — Winfield can play with range in the post and can work from the slot as a nickel defender. Seven of his 80 tackles last season went for a loss. He added four sacks and one interception.

“Elite tackler, super instinctive, great ball skills and ability to turn the ball over,” an NFC exec said. “Very good athlete — just lacks some height [5-foot-9].”

Winfield played more in the slot in 2022 but expects to return to free safety — where he played in his first two years — this season.

There is universal recognition that the Bucs’ young defensive back is capable in a variety of roles. And with a bit more concentration at his best position in 2023 there is a good chance he will climb this list next year.

Bucs’ Free Agent Addition Left Out

If you scroll the PFF leaderboard of top safety grades in 2022 you wouldn’t have to go far to find new Bucs safety Ryan Neal. Among safeties with at least 580 snaps, he ranked number one in the position group in grading with an 85.7 mark. That wasn’t enough for the former undrafted free agent to generate any votes in the poll.

Neal began 2022 as a backup and was thrust into a starting role following a season-ending injury

Bucs S Ryan Neal – Photo by: USA Today

to starter Jamal Adams. It didn’t take long for Neal made the most of the opportunity. He became a starter in week five. From week seven on he didn’t register a single game grade less than 68.0.

I have been watching several games from Neal’s 2022 season and let me tell you there is a lot to be excited for. But more on that in a future article. Until then let me leave you with this … if Neal can play anywhere close to the level of play he did last year, he and Winfield are going to challenge every other safety duo in the NFL for the title of “best.”

What’s more, if that happens and the Bucs re-sign Neal while extending Winfield Jr. their three-year outlook at the position will be quite set. And the Bucs’ system with Winfield Jr. is the perfect landing spot for Neal to show out. The 2023 season could really be fun for the Bucs secondary.