Buccaneers Select Antoine Winfield Jr. with No. 45 pick in NFL Draft

The Bucs look to improve their passing defense by drafting safety Antoine Winfield Jr.

SI Staff | Apr 24, 2020

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers selected S Antoine Winfield Jr. with the No. 45 pick of the 2020 NFL Draft. Son of former NFL Pro Bowl cornerback Antoine Winfield, Antoine Winfield Jr. grew up in Woodlands, Texas and attended The Woodlands High School. A three-star prospect, Winfield was a star defensive back for the Highlanders. He was highly recruited prior to committing to Minnesota.

Winfield suffered season-ending injuries in 2017 and 2018 but stayed healthy last year. He broke out with seven interceptions, three sacks, two forced fumbles and 83 total tackles. He then posted a 4.45 time in the 40-yard dash plus a 36-inch vertical jump and 124-inch broad jump at the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine. That showing cemented his status as an early-round pick.

His NFL rich bloodlines—he learned from his father how to prepare and study film—will serve him well at the next level. He has a high football IQ and should easily pick up new defensive schemes in the NFL. Winfield was a First-Team Associated Press All-American and First-Team All-Big Ten selection during his senior year. He played parts of four seasons with the Golden Gophers and finished his career with 127 solo tackles (172 total) and four sacks. He also had nine interceptions and returned two of them for touchdowns.

Here’s why SI’s Kevin Hanson ranked Winfield Jr. as the No. 49 overall player on his big board:

Winfield Jr. lacks ideal height and length and missed all but four games each in the 2017 and '18 seasons, but he is an instinctual “student of the game” with an NFL pedigree. A sure tackler with outstanding ball skills, he led the Golden Gophers in both tackles (88) and interceptions (seven) in 2019.

2019 stats (Sophomore; Minnesota): 58 solo tackles, 83 total tackles, 3 sacks, 7 INT, 1 TD (12 games)

2018 stats (Sophomore; Minnesota): 10 solo tackles, 17 total tackles, 1 INT (4 games)

2017 stats (Sophomore; Minnesota): 17 solo tackles, 20 total tackles, 1 sack (4 games)

2016 stats (Freshman; Minnesota): 37 solo tackles, 52 total tackles, 1 INT, 1 TD (10 games)

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Published Apr 24, 2020

SI STAFF