Vikings Rumors: Minnesota listed as 2024 landing spot for son of Vikings legend
This year we signed All-Pro safety Antoine Winfield Jr. as a free agent. Signing with the Minnesota Vikings, the team where his father had a legendary career?
The Minnesota Vikings made another selection in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft after selecting Justin Jefferson with the first pick. Former University of Minnesota safety Antoine Winfield Jr. was still on the board and some had hoped the Vikings would use their second first-round pick on the son of one of the best players to ever wear the purple and gold.
But Minnesota passed on Winfield with the second pick in the first round, and by the time the Vikings returned in time to make a selection in the second round of the 2020 draft, the young defenseman was already selected. Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Vikings Rumors: Could Antoine Winfield Jr. Return to Minnesota in 2024?
Winfield is a free agent this offseason after spending the last four years with the Buccaneers. To prevent the All-Pro safety from signing with another team this offseason, Tampa Bay could put the franchise tag on him.
Spotrac.com estimates the franchise tag for the 2024 safety would be worth about $16.2 million to the team. That’s an amount the Bucs can afford, as they expect to have over $47 million in cap space this year. . year. However, if Tampa Bay does not place the franchise tag on Winfield, he can sign with any other team of his choice this offseason.
If so, some believe the son of former Vikings star Antoine Winfield could return to Minnesota. That group includes PFF, who recently listed the Vikings as a potential landing spot for the 2024 safety talent.
If Harrison Smith retires this year, Winfield would be the perfect replacement. The addition of Winfield will allow Minnesota to continue to reliably have three safeties on the field next season, provided Cam Bynum and Josh Metellus retain their roles through the 2023 campaign.
Last season with the Bucs, Winfield had 122 tackles (six for loss), 12 interceptions, 12 pressures, six sacks, six forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries and three interceptions. Surprisingly, he was not named to the NFC roster for the 2024 Pro Bowl, but those criticisms were quickly dispelled as he earned his first career first-team All-Pro selection.
Winfield would be a big help for the Vikings this year, but his return to the Twin Cities really depends on if Smith retires and Tampa Bay decides to put the franchise tag on the young safety.
