NFL free agency is just around the corner, where the Chicago Bears have plenty of players set to hit the open market and other veterans around the league who will certainly be of interest for Bears general manager Ryan Poles.
Here at Bears Wire, we’re going through some key free agents — both in-house and potential targets from other teams — breaking down their 2023 performance and whether or not they fit in the Bears’ long-term plans.
This time we venture over to the defensive side of the ball and examine standout Buccaneers safety Antoine Winfield Jr., the son of former All-Pro cornerback Antoine Winfield. Winfield Jr. hit the ground running when he first entered the league in 2020, quickly earning a starting safety spot with Tampa Bay and proceeded to demonstrate eye-popping athleticism and a proficiency in bringing down ball carriers.
His resounding success as a rookie turned out to be no fluke; he quickly asserted himself as one of the game’s best safeties, earning a Pro Bowl berth in 2021 and an All-Pro nod in 2023. Winfield Jr. touts a lethal set of skills and, with the Bears parting ways with the, at one time, promising safety Eddie Jackson, Chicago will be urgently looking to fill the open free safety position this offseason. Let’s dive into Winfield Jr’s. profile and determine whether the Bears will pay him top dollar to be an integral piece of a rising defense.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers safety Antoine Winfield Jr. (31) works to push Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. (11) out of bounds Sunday, Nov. 26, 2023, during a game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
Position: Safety
Age: 25
Experience: 5th season
Projected market value: $18.4 million
Sep 10, 2023; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers safety Antoine Winfield Jr. (31) celebrates his fumble recovery against the Minnesota Vikings in the first quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports
Stats: 122 total tackles, 6 tackles for loss, 6 forced fumbles, 6 sacks, 12 pass deflections, 3 interceptions (17 games)
The Buccaneers were looked at as a candidate for major regression last season, as legendary quarterback Tom Brady decided to retire for the second, and seemingly final, time after the 2022 campaign. The departure of Brady uncovered a scary sight for Bucs fans: a team without a legitimate quarterback, with journeyman Baker Mayfield and a raw Kyle Trask set to butt helmets in a battle for the rights to the starting position. What many failed to see before the season started was that the foundations of a good team were still upright: the offense featured the towering receiving duo of Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, and the defensive side had playmakers all over, including Winfield Jr.
With that in mind, it should’ve come as no surprise when Tampa Bay shocked the NFL world and finished the season with a winning 9-8 record and secured an unlikely playoff berth. Mayfield’s sudden revitalization as a passer certainly played a huge role, but the team’s battle-hardened supporting cast won them games when their QB couldn’t rise to the occasion. Winfield Jr. was a major player throughout the entirety of the season, pairing that instinctual nose for the football with the tenacity to meet his opponents at the point of attack.
The safety was asked to play more toward the line of scrimmage in an effort to help the linebackers, and that adjustment turned out to be a bountiful decision, as Winfield Jr. compiled 122 total tackles, far eclipsing his previous career high of 94. His production only picked up as the season went on, having his best stretch from Week 9 on, totaling 73 tackles, three interceptions, five tackles for loss, six deflected passes and two forced fumbles in that span. Pro Football Focus recognized him for his elite play in 2023, awarding him a 91.2 grade overall. Winfield Jr. has proven himself to be a jack-of-all-trades safety in the same vein of the Bears’ own Jaquan Brisker.
Dec 3, 2023; Tampa, Florida, USA; Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young (9) is sacked by Tampa Bay Buccaneers safety Antoine Winfield Jr. (31) in the third quarter at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports
There’s no debating Chicago needs a quality safety to defend the backend with Brisker, and that was true even before the team parted ways with Jackson. The former Pro Bowl safety has been a liability on defense for the past few years, with his thrilling, game-changing moments a thing of the past. Jackson’s weakness was always his tackling — his unbelievable athleticism and ball skills just made everyone forget about that fact. His weaknesses only became more glaring as injuries became more frequent, robbing him of his speed and range. Jackson was the crack in the armor of a solid defense at the end, and it became more and more evident as each game passed.
So, with Chicago’s longtime safety out the door, who on the roster can step up? Not anyone with a proven pedigree, that’s for sure. Former 2022 seventh-round pick Elijah Hicks is now the de facto starting free safety and, to be fair, he’s been serviceable in spots. Journeyman Adrian Colbert is the only other natural free safety on the Bears currently, with rookies Quindell Johnson and Douglas Coleman lll acting as the other safeties on the roster behind Brisker. There’s no way general manager Ryan Poles settles for an unknown as a starter, in my opinion. Chicago is on the cusp of having a truly special defensive unit; all the team needs is a couple more pieces. Whether through a bidding war in free agency or through the upcoming NFL draft, he’s going to fill the hole with a talented player.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers safety Antoine Winfield Jr. (31) breaks up a pass intended for Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins (85) in the second quarter during a Week 15 NFL game, Sunday, Dec. 18, 2022, at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla.
Nfl Cincinnati Bengals At Tampa Bay Buccaneers Dec 18 2048
Winfield Jr. would be an excellent addition to the Bears. Like, a match made in heaven sort of deal. It’s not just his impressive resume — though that certainly helps. It would be such a good pairing because of his schematic fit, and he’s the exact sort of defender head coach Matt Eberflus loves. Winfield Jr. is a do-it-all player: he can play close to the line of scrimmage in a pseudo-linebacker type of role, he can sit back in coverage and read the eyes of opposing quarterbacks, and he’s extremely effective at getting to the QB on the blitz. Doesn’t that sound like someone else we know? Yes, that’s exactly the same play style that Brisker employs now. Eberflus is extremely fond of sending not only Brisker, but any second level defender off the edge on a disguised blitz — he must be salivating thinking about what he could do with two high-level safeties at his disposal. Winfield Jr. would be an incredible addition to the Bears and bring the franchise that much closer to an elite defense.
The real question is not if Poles wants him, it’s if he’s willing to give up what it takes to get him. Thanks to his business-savvy moves, Chicago is in prime position to swing on some difference-makers in free agency, as the Bears have the third-most cap space in the NFL. Winfield Jr. is one of the best safeties in the league, and he’ll command the dollar amount befitting one of the best. Poles has not been known to distribute the top dollar to free agents, particularly on the defensive side of the ball. He wants to get his wins on that side through the draft and, to his credit, he often does get his victories in that avenue. It’s been the topic of rampant conversation that the Bears have a monumental draft ahead of them, with tough decisions to make on the offensive side. It’s not just the QB spot either; both the interior offensive line and receiver positions are in dire need of a touch up. Chicago’s two first round picks and third round pick will almost certainly be used to upgrade those areas of concern — will Poles really wait until the fourth round to get his starting safety? Ironically, history does support that notion; Eddie Jackson was taken in the fourth round of the 2017 NFL draft. I don’t foresee Poles waiting that long to get his free safety, so I believe free agency will be where the Bears make their move for one.
It can be assumed Tampa Bay will make a serious bid to keep Winfield Jr., and they’ll certainly match his value as one of premier safeties in the sport. It’s also likely that the Bears won’t be the only team safety-hunting in free agency, and will probably have to engage in a bidding war for Winfield Jr. Taking everything we’ve discussed into account, I don’t see Chicago as Winfield’s next destination. To take a step further, I would guess he stays with the Buccaneers. They handed him the starting role as a rookie, and he’s only grown more adept in his skills in his four years there. Throw in the team’s surprise playoff run, and there’s a good chance the majority of the roster wants to stay together to really make a push for the promised land next year.
Sorry Bears fans, Winfield Jr. most likely won’t be the answer to your team’s safety woes.
