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Buccaneers S Antoine Winfield Jr.'s Contract Details Revealed

Here's what Winfield Jr.'s record-setting deal looks like broken down.

River Wells

Dec 24, 2023; Tampa, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers safety Antoine Winfield Jr. (31) reacts
Dec 24, 2023; Tampa, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers safety Antoine Winfield Jr. (31) reacts / Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports
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The Tampa Bay Buccaneers didn't want safety Antoine Winfiield Jr. going anywhere, and they made him the highest paid defensive back in the league to ensure it.

READ MORE: Buccaneers Officially Sign Third Member of 2024 Draft Class

Winfield signed a four-year deal worth up to $84.1 million, $45 million of which is guaranteed. And while that was known once the deal was announced, how the deal was structured hadn't yet been revealed — ESPN's Adam Schefter revealed the brunt of it on Tuesday, however, and there are some other fun tidbits as well.

All of Winfield Jr.'s guaranteed salary is on the front end, so he's set to make $24 million in 2024 and $21 million guaranteed in 2025. After that, the money isn't guaranteed, with him making $19.5 million in 2026 and $19.6 million in 2027.

Typically, extensions can also include the franchise tag, but this one doesn't, per Greg Auman of FOX Sports. That means that this deal replaces the tag and will begin in 2024. Additionally, the deal saves the Bucs some money on the salary cap, clearing up about $10 million — this will allow Tampa Bay to sign draft picks and maintain other operating costs.

READ MORE: Former Buccaneers Running Back Cut From New England Patriots

According to Spotrac, Winfield Jr.'s cap hit for 2024 will be $8 million. That number skyrockets to $25 million in 2025, goes down to $23.5 million in 2026 and then up marginally to $23.6 million in 2027. He'll be a free agent in 2028, but he'll still have a cap hit of $4 million.

There's also a potential out in Winfield Jr.'s contract for 2026, as the contract is front-loaded. If the Bucs were to get rid of him, they'd have a $12 million cap hit after paying his guaranteed $45 million.

All-in-all, the deal is one both the Bucs and Winfield Jr. will be happy with. And now that his deal is taken care of, Tampa Bay's offseason is largely complete and the team can turn toward competing for a Super Bowl.

Stick with BucsGameday for more coverage of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers throughout the offseason.

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River Wells
RIVER WELLS

River Wells is a sports journalist from St. Petersburg, Florida, who has covered the Tampa Bay Buccaneers since 2023. He graduated with a journalism degree from the University of Florida in 2021. You can follow him on Twitter @riverhwells.