The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have signed safety Antoine Winfield Jr. to a four-year, $84.1million contract extension, Winfield’s agent announced Monday.
The contract makes Winfield the NFL’s highest-paid defensive back and the first safety to ever hold that distinction.
Winfield’s contract includes $45million in guaranteed money.
Winfield had been scheduled to make about $17million next season under the franchise tag.
Winfield’s agent, David Mulugheta posted the news on social media with a screen capture of the moment he informed Winfield that the deal was done.
“Couldn't be happier to make this call and let @antoinewinfieldjr know he just made HISTORY! The first time that a safety is the highest paid defensive back in the NFL. In a year where the value of safeties has been questioned, the Buccaneer Organization, the Glazer Family and GM Jason Licht have stepped up and taken care of one of their most valuable family members,” Mulugheta wrote in the post.
“Congratulations Antoine, you have accomplished something that has never been done before. You will forever be etched in history as the first. I appreciate your trust and cannot wait to see you back on the field.”
Winfield, 25, is the son of retired defensive back Antoine Winfield Sr. and was drafted by the Buccaneers in the second round in 2020.
The 2023 All-Pro has become one of the best and most versatile defensive backs in the league and is coming off his best season.
In 17 games last season, Winfield set career bests with six sacks, three interceptions, 12 pass deflections, six forced fumbles and four fumble recoveries.
Winfield is the latest key contributor to be signed to an extension by the Buccaneers this offseason. Quarterback Baker Mayfield, wide receiver Mike Evans and linebacker Lavonte David all signed deals this spring to remain with Tampa Bay.
Dolphins WR Waddle gets $84.75M extension
Jaylen Waddle has become the latest star wide receiver to receive a big new contract this offseason, as the Miami Dolphins standout has agreed to a three-year, $84.75 million extension according to multiple reports.
NFL.com reported Thursday that Waddle will receive a minimum of $76 million on his new deal, which begins in 2026 and will run through the 2028 season. That amount is the third-largest sum of guaranteed money to a wide receiver in league history, trailing only Philadelphia Eagles star A.J. Brown's $84 million and Detroit Lions playmaker Amon-Ra St. Brown's $77 million.
The $28.25 average annual value of Waddle's extension is the fourth-highest among wide receivers behind Brown ($32 million), St. Brown and Dolphins teammate Tyreek Hill (both $30 million).
Both Brown and St. Brown signed their extensions this offseason as well. Three other receivers, Philadephia's DeVonta Smith ($75 million), Nico Collins of the Houston Texans ($72.75 million) and Michael Pittman Jr. of the Indianapolis Colts ($70 million), recently agreed to new three-year deals.
Taken by Miami with the sixth overall pick in the 2021 draft, Waddle is one of only five players in NFL history to begin his career with three consecutive seasons with at least 70 catches and 1,000 receiving yards. That list includes another current Dolphins player in Odell Beckham Jr., who did so with the New York Giants from 2014-16, as well as Michael Thomas (four straight from 2016-19), Justin Jefferson (2020-22) and Ja'Marr Chase (2021-23).
Waddle set an NFL rookie record with 104 receptions in 2021, a mark that was surpassed this past season by the Los Angeles' Rams Puka Nacua (105). In 47 career regular-season games, the 25-year-old has compiled 251 catches for 3,385 yards and 18 touchdowns.
The former University of Alabama star was a key part of a Miami offence that led the NFL with 4,514 net passing yards in 2023, with Waddle contributing 1,014 yards and four touchdowns on 72 receptions in 14 games.
Waddle has two seasons remaining on his rookie contract after the Dolphins exercised his fifth-year option in April.
NFL wide receiver Collins agrees to $72M extension with Texans
Wide receiver Nico Collins took a major step forward last season with C.J. Stroud.
The Houston Texans rewarded him for his production.
The Texans and Collins agreed to a three-year extension worth $72.5million on Tuesday.
The deal, which was reported by NFL Network Insiders Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero, includes $52million guaranteed, and holds a maximum value of $75million.
Collins, who was entering the fourth and final year of his rookie contract, is coming off his best season in the NFL, leading the Texans with 80 receptions for 1,297 yards with eight touchdowns.
In three pro seasons, he has 150 catches for 2,224 yards and 11 TDs.
Teamed with the rookie Stroud at quarterback in 2023, the Texans emerged as having one of the top passing offences in the NFL.
Houston surprisingly won the AFC South and reached the divisional round - the franchise's first trip to the play-offs since 2019.
The Texans will enter this season with lofty expectations after adding another star wide receiver in Stefon Diggs to a roster that already includes Tank Dell.
NFL reveals full 2024 schedule
The entire 2024 NFL schedule is now set.
While all the matchups have been known since the conclusion of the 2023 regular season, and some games were revealed in the last few days, the league released the remainder of the schedule on Wednesday.
The latest schedule update included the American Thanksgiving triple-header featuring the Chicago Bears visiting the Detroit Lions, followed by the New York Giants at the Dallas Cowboys and wrapping up with the Miami Dolphins travelling to Green Bay to face the Packers.
The following day on Black Friday, the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs will host the Las Vegas Raiders.
Earlier in the day, the NFL announced the five international games and the Christmas Day doubleheader.
Christmas, which falls on a Wednesday, will see the Chiefs visiting the Pittsburgh Steelers, followed by the Houston Texans hosting the Baltimore Ravens.
On Boxing Day, the Chicago Bears will host the Seattle Seahawks on Thursday Night Football.
The Chiefs and Ravens will kick off the season in Kansas City on September 5 in a rematch of last season's AFC Championship Game.
The following night, the NFL will play its first game in South America with the Philadelphia Eagles and Packers squaring off in São Paulo, Brazil.
The first Sunday Night game of the season features the Detroit Lions hosting the Los Angeles Rams in a rematch of their thrilling wild-card game.
The first Monday Night Football game will see Aaron Rodgers make his return after rupturing his Achilles tendon just four snaps into his Jets career with New York visiting the defending NFC champion San Francisco 49ers.
Other Week 1 highlights include Russell Wilson appearing in his first game for the Steelers, as Pittsburgh visits the Atlanta Falcons, and No. 1 pick Caleb Williams making his NFL debut with the Chicago Bears hosting the Tennessee Titans.
Other rookie quarterbacks likely to take the field in Week 1 include No. 2 pick Jayden Daniels and the Washington Commanders visiting the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, No. 3 pick Drake Maye and the New England Patriots visiting the Cincinnati Bengals, and J.J. McCarthy, the 10th overall pick, of the Minnesota Vikings visiting the Giants.
The Jim Harbaugh era in Los Angeles begins with the Chargers hosting the Raiders.
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