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

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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PISCATAWAY, NJ – OCTOBER 19: Antoine Winfield Jr. #11 of the Minnesota Golden Gophers celebrates en route to a interception returned for a touchdown against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights during the fourth quarter at SHI Stadium on October 19, 2019 in Piscataway, New Jersey. Minnesota defeated Rutgers 42-7. (Photo by Corey Perrine/Getty Images)
PISCATAWAY, NJ – OCTOBER 19: Antoine Winfield Jr. #11 of the Minnesota Golden Gophers celebrates en route to a interception returned for a touchdown against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights during the fourth quarter at SHI Stadium on October 19, 2019 in Piscataway, New Jersey. Minnesota defeated Rutgers 42-7. (Photo by Corey Perrine/Getty Images) /

Best PickAntoine Winfield Jr, S, Minnesota

Safety has been a position of need for the Buccaneers for a number of years. Tampa Bay thought it had addressed the position with Justin Evans a few years ago but injuries have officially put his future with the team in doubt. In comes a stud in the truest sense: Antoine Winfield Jr.

Not since the Bucs had Ronde Barber have they been able to have someone in the secondary with enough talent to put weary heads to rest. The Tampa secondary has been atrocious for years, and Winfield instantly changes that by simply walking in the door. His upside is insane and it wouldn’t be surprising to see him become not only the best Bucs pick of this draft but

Worst Pick: Ke’Shawn Vaughn, RB, Vanderbilt

This was the only miss in an otherwise stellar draft class for the Buccaneers. After passing on a running back in the second round to take Winfield Jr., it was clear the Bucs were going to have to settle for a little bit less than they thought if running back was indeed a position they were going to fill.

Even with the top-tier backs off the board, there were better options than Vaughn available (Zach Moss, DeeJay Dallas, Joshua Kelley). Not filling it at all, rather than reaching just to fill it, would have been perfectly acceptable.

Grade: B+