The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are done congratulating themselves after signing wide receiver Mike Evans and quarterback Baker Mayfield for 2024.
Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht has two more major moves planned: contract extensions for safety Antoine Winfield Jr. and offensive tackle Tristan Wirfs. Licht discussed this on “The NFL Report” on Tuesday.
“I think they’re [both] on their way to possibly having a historic career,” said Licht to hosts James Palmer and Steve Wyche. “They’ve already had fantastic careers, but historic careers, which they aim to continue throughout their stay in Tampa.
That is a top goal for us right now, first Antoine, then Tristan, in no particular sequence, to have them locked up for the long term.”
The Tampa Bay franchise has tagged Winfield, but the Buccaneers can still sign him to a long-term contract before the season begins. It will benefit the Buccaneers’ salary cap position if necessary, as he will cost $17.12 million with the tag.
Wirfs, like Winfield, will enter the last year of his rookie contract with a fifth-year option for $18 million this year. Wirfs will also cost the Buccaneers significantly in 2025 and beyond.
Antoine Winfield Jr. and Tristan Wirfs Zoomed to NFL Stardom
Antoine Winfield Jr. has been doing it all for the Bucs D 🏴☠️ pic.twitter.com/HGCA054auF
— NFL (@NFL) January 9, 2024
Winfield and Wirfs, both 2020 NFL draft picks, had an immediate impact as rookie starters for the Buccaneers. They also contributed to the team’s 2020 Super Bowl victory and have been reliable starters for the previous four seasons.
“Our staff did a fantastic job that year in [the] COVID draft,” Licht went on to say. “I’ve joked that we should all go from home… and do the draft via Zoom again, as we did last year.
Winfield, a second-round draft pick from Minnesota, has 384 tackles, seven interceptions, 11 forced fumbles, eight fumble recoveries, and 15 sacks in his young career. This has led to All-Pro and Pro Bowl accolades.
His availability has been consistent, with only eight missed games in his career.
Wirfs has been a key player in the trenches for the Buccaneers, who scored 492 or more points in 2020 and 2021. He helped the Buccaneers offense throughout its problems in 2022, while Wirfs’ transfer from right to left tackle aided Mayfield’s career year in 2023.
Wirfs was taken by Tampa Bay as the 13th overall choice from Iowa. He has three Pro Bowl appearances and one All-Pro honor, and he has been healthy throughout his career, missing only four games.
Buccaneers Could Spend More Than $43 Million Annually on 2 Stars
According to Spotrac’s market value, the Buccaneers can expect to pay Winfield at least $18.4 million per year for his services. That is still somewhat less than Los Angeles Chargers safety Derwin James’ annual salary of $19.13 million, which is the most in the NFL for safeties.
Wirfs might cost considerably more, at $25.5 million per year, according to Spotrac. That would tie Houston Texans tackle Laremy Tunsil for the highest annual salary at the position in the league.
With the draft coming up in April, the Buccaneers still have $4.41 million in salary cap room. The team is expected to have $86.6 million to work with in 2025, when wide receiver Chris Godwin becomes a free agent as well.
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