Antoine Winfield, Jr.
So league executives, coaches and scouts are willing to look past Antoine Winfield, Jr. missing half of last season and playing the other half like a middling starting safety took over his body.
Joe was somewhat comforted to learn that.
It’s that time of July, when Jeremy Fowler of ESPN dumps results from his annual survey of NFL coaches, front office suits and scouts. He asks roughly 70 of them to rank the best 10 players at every position. They vote anonymously, and offer commentary if they’re so moved.
Safeties are today’s position, and Winfield got the No. 7 slot after being named tops in the league a year ago.
7. Antoine Winfield Jr.
Winfield’s lack of splash in 2024 was noticeable, especially coming off an all-world performance the previous season that earned him a four-year, $84 million contract extension.
Injuries held Winfield to nine games, and he never got in a rhythm of disrupting the football. He finished the season with zero interceptions, 3 pass deflections, 2 sacks and zero forced fumbles. That was a big drop from 2023, when he recorded 6 sacks, 6 forced fumbles, 4 fumble recoveries and 3 interceptions.
“He plays just like his dad [former NFL cornerback Antoine Winfield], great tackler, always around the ball,” an NFL coordinator said. “But with his size mixed with that physicality, you worry about his durability, and that showed up last year.”
Voters are largely willing to give Winfield a pass for last year. After all, he is still in his prime.
Joe’s willing to give Winfield a pass, too. But Joe is a little skeptical that Winfield can return to his All-World form of 2023.
Derwin James (Chargers) took the No. 6 ranking and Budda Baker (Cardinals) is at No. 8. Bucs killer Jessie Bates (Falcons) is No. 4.