The Bucs’ 2024 season was marred by injury after injury, and it affected the team throughout the season in a litany of ways. They never came at the same time, it never allowed for the team to have much momentum, and it again resulted in a quick playoff exit for them.
A lot of the players on the roster have something to prove but PFF picked one player specifically who will playing with not just a chip but a boulder on his shoulder in 2025.
Zoltan Buday wrote up 10 players with something to prove in 2025, and rounding out his selections were Antoine Winfield Jr. of the Bucs. While the former All-Pro safety did get to play in nine games, he never looked himself during the season and had career lows across the board.
Buday writes, “The Buccaneers made Antoine Winfield Jr. not only the highest-paid safety in the NFL, but also the highest-paid defensive back last offseason. . . .2024 was Winfield’s worst season to date in all regards. He played a career-low 601 snaps due to multiple injuries. Even when he was on the field, he did not play like his usual self. His 57.8 PFF overall grade was the lowest of his career, in line with his 50.8 PFF coverage grade and his 125.1 passer rating allowed in coverage. One year after his historic contract extension, Winfield is looking to prove that he is still among the best safeties in the NFL.”
Winfield Jr.’s injury coming off that mammoth contract may be a blessing in disguise, though, as most people have new deals to focus on with new players. Thus, it allows the former Golden Gopher to fly under the radar and return to form.
Look for the Bucs’ All-Pro safety to start his revenge tour beginning in July at Training Camp.
This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: PFF sees a Buccaneers defender playing with something to prove in 2025
Reporting by Andrew Harbaugh, Buccaneers Wire / Bucs Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
