Published March 5, 2024 by Héctor Lázzeri
Antoine Winfield Jr. receives the franchise tag in Tampa Bay | AP
Los Tampa Bay Buccaneers They continue to cross items off their offseason to-do list. After renewing Mike Evanson Tuesday they decided to use the franchise tag not in his quarterback, but in the safety Antoine Winfield Jr.which opens the door for Baker Mayfield not to return in 2024.
The Bucs opted to designate the safety, who was chosen at All-Pro ideal team after his best season in the NFL, in which he had 122 tackles, 6.0 sacks, 12 passes defended, 3 interceptions and was league leader with 6 forced fumbles. He will play the 2024 season under a 17.1 million contract, although they are looking for a long-term agreement.
Winfield Jr., having been chosen in the second round of the 2020 Draft, does not have the fifth-year option of the players taken in the first round, so he was going to be a free agent. By designating him as the franchise player, Tampa gains time to negotiate long-term with the 25-year-old player. The issue is that It can cost them their QB.
By only having a franchise tag, Baker Mayfield will become a free agent. The QB, who signed for one year and beat out Kyle Trask to be the starter in 2023, exceeded all expectations and had his best season in the NFL on the way to winning the division and reaching the second round of the Playoffs. With multiple teams searching for QB, Baker might not return Tampa, which has serious problems against the salary cap, having only 18 million of space, according to Over The Cap, and a list of free agents including Devin White and Lavonte David.
It may interest you
2024-03-05 18:44:49
#Bucs #franchise #tag #Antoine #Winfield #risk #Baker #Mayfield #leaving #free #agency
