NextGen Data Says Bucs Have One All-Pro
January 29th, 2024
Joe loves official NextGen Stats data derived from sensors in players’ equipment and cutting edge technology.
It’s far more interesting than report cards of interns trying to decipher route running for overpriced fantasy football guides.
Unfortunately, only a fraction of the all the NextGen data is released to the public. NFL teams have access to nearly all of it.
The writing crew at NFL.com gets a peek and builds an annual All-Pro team from the data. Only one Buccaneer made the 2023 squad. Guess who? It’s safety Antoine Winfield, Jr., who also made the traditional All-Pro team but was snubbed by the Pro Bowl voting proccess.
… Taking the ball away from the offense is the name of the game for modern NFL defenses. Winfield did just when he saved a touchdown by forcing a D.J. Chark fumble that fell through the end zone. His 12 passes defensed this season tied Kyle Hamilton for most among safeties, and his 27.9 percent ballhawk rate was the fourth highest among all defenders (minimum 30 targets). If stopping offenses in their tracks all season long isn’t good enough for the Pro Bowl, then what is?
Ballhawk Rate is a measurement of how often a player disrupts a pass divided by targets when he is the nearest defender.
In plain language, Winfield is around the ball at an elite rate, which is no suprise to Bucs fans.
Of course, there are other metrics by which to measure Winfield’s performance. Joe has no doubt Winfield was hard to top among his fellow defensive backs. Kyle Hamilton (Ravens) and Jessie Bates (Falcons) were the other two NextGen All-Pro safeties.
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January 29th, 2024 at 1:24 pm
Now pair him back there with another Golden Gopher, Tyler Nubin, and we’ll have a terrifying safety duo.
January 29th, 2024 at 1:31 pm
Antoine is a beast.
January 29th, 2024 at 1:43 pm
122 tackles, 6 tackles for loss, 6 sacks, 8 QB hits, 6 forced fumbles, 4 fumble recoveries, 3 interceptions and 12 passes defended per Pro Football Reference.
January 29th, 2024 at 1:44 pm
Winfield is awesome but soon Diaby and Kancey will be joining him on this list…
January 29th, 2024 at 2:09 pm
Bucs ought to draft Tyler Nubin at number 26 from Minnesota to play along side Winfield we could be set at safety for a long while.
January 29th, 2024 at 2:11 pm
gotbbucs Says:
January 29th, 2024 at 1:24 pm
Now pair him back there with another Golden Gopher, Tyler Nubin, and we’ll have a terrifying safety duo.
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I very much agree, Nubin is an elite football mind with the size to play SS in the NFL. MIGHT take a 1st rd pick to get him unfortunately, but would probably be the biggest improvement we could make at a position in the draft.
January 29th, 2024 at 3:43 pm
If the Buccaneers don’t solve opposing QBs lack of being pressured and knocked off their throwing spots it’s not going to matter who is in the secondary. They will continue to give up alot of yards and struggle to get off the field!
January 29th, 2024 at 3:58 pm
The DeJean guy from Iowa would be a good pick if he is there. He can play corner or safety.
I noticed Wirfs quoting “Coach Ferentz” in an interview the other day. When in doubt, draft the Iowa guy!
January 29th, 2024 at 4:21 pm
Marine Buc
I agree and I hope we’re right. I think the only thing that will stop YaYa or Calijah is an injury.
Now imagine if we drafted two more edge rushers and even ONE of them worked out. Add a couple of truly stud OL and the Bucs become scary regardless of who plays QB…IF we keep the rest of the studs..ME…LVD..Winfield and Wirfs obviously. I think Baker gives the Bucs their best shot at continued success, I haven’t seen enough of Trask but he doesn’t scare me. If the Bucs improve getting to the passer…watch out.
January 29th, 2024 at 4:45 pm
NFL Franchise Tag for Safety is $14.5M. The Top 3 Safeties make $19, $18, and $17.5. I’m guessing Winfield will command something in that range. If they can’t get a deal done, the franchise tag is certainly an option.
January 29th, 2024 at 5:00 pm
Nubin would be a great pick. How many times was Ryan Neal burned this season? Consistently, the Bucs let up completions in the middle of the field, two playmaking safetys help alleviate that and allow Bowles to run all the exotic blitz’s he wants.
January 29th, 2024 at 7:29 pm
There are a number of interesting safety prospects in this years draft.
January 30th, 2024 at 1:20 am
Edge/OLB, OL, ILB, S,
We need another starter at all of those positions for next season.