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Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2020 NFL Draft grades: Antoine Winfield leads an All-Star class

By Josh Hill

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - NOVEMBER 09: Defensive back Antoine Winfield Jr. #11 of the Minnesota Golden Gophers intercepts a pass intended for wide receiver Justin Shorter #6 of the Penn State Nittany Lions during the first quarter at TCFBank Stadium on November 09, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - NOVEMBER 09: Defensive back Antoine Winfield Jr. #11 of the Minnesota Golden Gophers intercepts a pass intended for wide receiver Justin Shorter #6 of the Penn State Nittany Lions during the first quarter at TCFBank Stadium on November 09, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /
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MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – NOVEMBER 09: Defensive back Antoine Winfield Jr. #11 of the Minnesota Golden Gophers intercepts a pass intended for wide receiver Justin Shorter #6 of the Penn State Nittany Lions during the first quarter at TCFBank Stadium on November 09, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – NOVEMBER 09: Defensive back Antoine Winfield Jr. #11 of the Minnesota Golden Gophers intercepts a pass intended for wide receiver Justin Shorter #6 of the Penn State Nittany Lions during the first quarter at TCFBank Stadium on November 09, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /

45. Scouting Report. Antoine Winfield Jr. S. Minnesota. player. 852. Pick Analysis

Antoine Winfield might be the best safety in the entire class, and the Buccaneers got him on Day 2.

There were other talented defensive backs, and Winfield was projected as a second round pick, but he has Pro Bowl upside that instantly changes the fortunes of Todd Bowles defense. The secondary in Tampa Bay has been awful, but Winfield simply associating his name and the brand his built at Minnesota immediately upgrades it.

The NFL is a quarterback-driven league, full stop. Either teams are trying to find a quarterback who can be a franchise star and lead them to Super Bowls or a team is trying to find ways to stop that dream. Safety is a position not unlike quarterback in that it’s rare to find a true stud who can be that guy for a team.

Winfield is that guy.

Good safeties are as hard to find as good quarterbacks, and the Buccaneers found theirs. Todd Bowles best decision while with the New York Jets was to take Jamal Adams and try to reconstruct the defense around a potential All-Pro star. Bowles doesn’t have to do as much reconstructing in Tampa but has found in Winfield what he can use to finish what he started with Adams.

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