A New Top Earner Among Defensive Backs: Antoine Winfield Jr. Breaks Financial Barriers for Safeties
Since the inception of the NFL salary cap era in 1994, no safety had risen to the position of the highest-paid defensive back—until now. Antoine Winfield Jr. of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers has rewritten the financial playbook with his historic contract.
In May, Winfield inked a four-year deal worth $84.1 million, making him the highest-paid defensive back in the league. This contract sets a new precedent, with an average annual value of $21.025 million, edging out former top earner Jaire Alexander by a slim margin.
Before this groundbreaking agreement, Winfield was designated as a franchise player for $17.123 million. The leap to his new contract underlines the league-wide recognition of his value. By comparison, Green Bay Packers’ Jaire Alexander previously set the standard with his 2022 four-year, $84 million contract that averaged $21 million per year.
While Winfield’s contract represents a high-water mark for safeties, it also signifies a broader trend. Since the end of the 2020 regular season, the ceiling for safety salaries has surged by 42.54%. By contrast, the top end of the cornerback market has seen only a 5% growth over the same period.
That said, cornerbacks have still managed significant deals. In 2020, Jalen Ramsey set notable benchmarks with a five-year, $100 million deal with the Los Angeles Rams. This included $43.703 million fully guaranteed at signing and a total of $71.203 million in guarantees. More recently, Denzel Ward pushed the envelope further with his 2022 extension—a five-year, $100.5 million deal featuring $71.25 million in guarantees and $44.5 million fully guaranteed at signing.
For Winfield, the structure of his contract holds particular significance. It includes $45 million in guarantees, all fully guaranteed at signing. This level of immediate financial security puts him at the forefront of the league, not just among safeties but across all defensive backs.
The market for top-tier cornerbacks continues to evolve, albeit at a more modest pace. Trevon Diggs signed a five-year, $97 million extension in 2023, which included $42.304 million in guarantees and $33.304 million fully guaranteed at signing. Meanwhile, Marshon Lattimore secured a five-year extension in 2021 worth $19.4 million per year with substantial guarantees, solidifying his status among the elite.
This year also saw action around cornerback Jaylon Johnson, who received a $19.802 million franchise tag before signing a four-year, $76 million deal. Johnson showcased impressive performance stats, with opposing quarterbacks completing just 46.3% of their passes when targeting him, along with a career-high four interceptions in 2023.
The movement in the market isn't just confined to financial terms. L'Jarius Sneed, for example, was tagged by the Kansas City Chiefs and then traded to the Tennessee Titans for future draft picks. These shifts illustrate the dynamic nature of team strategies around defensive assets.
In addition to Winfield's remarkable ascent, other young talents are making their mark. Sauce Gardner earned the title of 2022 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year, while the Denver Broncos have secured Patrick Surtain II with a fully guaranteed fifth-year option for 2025. These moves signal a strong pipeline of future stars in the defensive backfield.
Winfield’s tenure with the Buccaneers and his new status as the highest-paid defensive back is not just a personal triumph but a reflection of evolving priorities in the NFL’s financial landscape. As teams continue to value and invest in their defensive backfields, the implications of Winfield’s contract will likely resonate across the league for years to come.