The Bucs have created some cap house by restructuring Antoine Winfield Jr.’s contract.
That is based on Greg Auman of Fox Sports activities.
Bucs have restructured the contract of security Antoine Winfield to unlock extra 2025 cap house. His $21 million base wage was shifted to a minimal wage and bonus, and a void 12 months was added. The web result’s creating $15.86 million in new cap house.
— Greg Auman (@gregauman) April 2, 2025
The workforce signed Winfield to a four-year, $84.1 million contract final 12 months making him the best paid defensive again in NFL historical past on the time. Since then 4 cornerbacks have surpassed Winfield’s $21,025,000 APY.
Bucs Clear Cap House With Antoine Winfield Jr.
Bucs FS Antoine Winfield Jr. – Photograph by: USA Right this moment
Antoine Winfield Jr. was due a completely assured $21 million in base wage this 12 months. The workforce has lowered that quantity to $1.170 million based on Greg Auman, whereas changing the remaining $19.83 million to a prorated signing bonus. That proration will happen over 5 years, together with 2025. The result’s Winfield’s cap quantity reducing from $25 million to $9.136 million for 2025 and the workforce saves $15.836 million in cap house.
On the opposite aspect of the ledger, the workforce pushes that financial savings into the long run and Winfield’s cap hits inflate in every of the subsequent three years. In 2026 his cap hit goes up from $23.5 million to $27.466 million. His 2027 cap hit strikes from $22.1 million to $26.066 million. And his 2028 useless cap strikes up from $4 million to $11.932 million.
This additionally, for all intents and functions, solidifies the Bucs’ dedication to Winfield in 2026 as a possible pre-June 1 lower subsequent 12 months would lead to a lower in wage cap house.
Winfield struggled via accidents within the first 12 months of his new contract final 12 months. He performed in simply 9 video games, recording 60 tackles, two tackles for loss, two sacks and three passes defensed.
Bucs head coach Todd Bowles and safeties Antoine Winfield Jr. and Mike Edwards – Photograph by: Cliff Welch/PR
Bucs head coach Todd Bowles addressed Winfield’s well being on the NFL Annual Assembly on Tuesday in West Palm Seashore, Fla.
“[We’re] 100% assured he’ll be wholesome,” Bowles mentioned. “He’s been coaching his butt off. ‘Win’ is a man who’s going to coach, he’s not going to say a lot, he’s going to coach and get again to himself. He at all times has a chip on his shoulder – whether or not he’s a first-round decide or a free agent, he’s going to follow. Him and Lavonte [David] are going to follow the identical manner. If he can keep wholesome, he’ll be the identical man he was two years in the past.”
Bowles famous how pissed off Winfield was with the accidents limiting his skill to make performs final 12 months.
“With the accidents, sure,” Bowles mentioned. “He obtained injured first, the second was pleasant fireplace – clearly, that was irritating for him. He may by no means get his ft on the bottom and the season form of ended that manner. He’s very decided this 12 months to return again and be who he was.”
