Now that the offseason is in full effect, fans are starting to look ahead at what the Tampa Bay Buccaneers can do to build on a wonderful, eventful 2023 campaign.
Jason Licht will have some key decisions to make in the coming weeks and months, and some of those decisions include prominent players.
Tampa Bay's free agent class features a handful of guys the team could choose to part with, including a team legend. But, there are four players which the Bucs cannot afford to lose to another team this offseason.
1. Antoine Winfield Jr., S
We have to start out with one of the best defensive players in all of football, who somehow did not make the Pro Bowl.
Ah, who cares? Antoine Winfield Jr. made the First Team All Pro Team instead. As one of the best safeties in all of football, Winfield has become the do-it-all catalyst for this defense. Yes, the front seven has done quite a bit for Todd Bowles in turning things around, but Winfield is the best player on this side of the ball.
Winfield had a career year in 2023, posting highs in total tackles (122), solo tackles (76), passes defensed (12), interceptions (6) and even sacks (6.0). When you talk about a true do-it-all defensive player, Winfield is the very definition.
He's entering free agency, but there is absolutely zero chance the Bucs allow him to leave Tampa Bay.
None.
Winfield is a Buc, and he'll hopefully be a Buc for life. His contract is going to be an expensive one, but Tampa Bay will find a way to pay not only him, but hopefully the next three guys as well.