Bucs Land Two Players In Top-Five Of NFC South
July 24th, 2026
Who besides Tristan Wirfs?
A few times a week, Joe sees readers leave comments on this here corner of the interwebs grousing about the talent level of the Bucs roster.
Well, a former Giants and Eagles beat guy for NJ.com doesn’t seem to be aligned with said readers.
Matt Lombardo, who operates “Between the Hashmarks,” cobbled together a list of the top-five players in the NFC South landfill. He had two Bucs in the top-five.
What surprised Joe was the order.
Lombardo selected Tristan Wirfs as his No. 4 player. Of course, you could argue Wirfs, the only player in NFL history to be named All-Pro at both left and right tackle, is the best player on the team.
4. Tristan Wirfs, OT, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
One of the premier offensive tackles in the sport, Wirfs is a stalwart in pass protection and a certified road grader in the ground game.Arguably the most important player on the field for the Buccaneers’ offense, Wirfs’ reputation as one of the most well-rounded players at his position has been well earned. …
Perhaps most impressive, is that Wirfs was navigating toe and knee injuries at various times during the 2025 campaign, and his level of play never really trailed off as a result.
Allowing just two sacks and four quarterback hits in 778 offensive snaps, drawing a matchup against Wirfs was essentially pre-game nightmare fuel for opposing defensive ends and pass rushers.
Joe was slightly surprised by Lombardo’s selection of Wirfs at No. 4 only because Wirfs may have had his only bad year in the NFL last season — well, a bad year for the standard Wirfs has established.
Wirfs had his season delayed because of knee surgery. Joe thought he never quite looked right. And when Chase Young blew past Wirfs for a sack late in the season, Joe literally did a double-take like a Looney Tunes character. Was there an imposter wearing No. 78?
But here is where Lombardo surprised Joe. As the No. 2 player in the NFC South landfill, Lombardo selected safety Antoine Winfield.
2. Antoine Winfield Jr., S, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
A rangy, physically imposing, dominant force in the secondary, Winfield is a tone-setter for the Buccaneers’ defense.
Beyond the ability to man-to-man sideline-to-sideline deep in coverage, Winfield Jr.’s football IQ and ability to read and react are off the charts, which has helped him become one of head coach Todd Bowles’ most versatile and potent weapons deployed against opposing quarterbacks, whether it’s playing centerfield or throwing his weight around up near the line of scrimmage.
Winfield has averaged just over 58 tackles, while intercepting multiple passes in three of his first six seasons. Last fall, only three safeties broke more passes than Winfield’s six, and his 15 quarterback pressures ranking third in the league is a testament to the myriad ways he can alter the outcome of a play or even a game.
Joe was surprised Lombardo picked Winfield only because Winfield, Joe thought, faded as an impact player down the stretch.
Then we hear KitKat-eating Bucs coach Todd Bowles say recently how he had Winfield playing center field to help cover for others, which took Winfield out of his normal playmaking impact.
It’s cool that Winfield’s established reputation made an impression on Lombardo.
Winfield was extraordinary against the slimy Saints last year in New Orleans and was clearly robbed of two defensive touchdowns due to terrible calls by the zebras (the inadvertant whistle was a lousy excuse because FOX field mics never picked up on any whistle). That was the last game Joe saw where Winfield had that level of game-changing impact.
To no one’s surprise, Lombardo chose Bijan Robinson as the best player in the NFC South landfill. You could make a helluva argument that Robinson is a top-five player in the league.
July 24th, 2026 at 5:51 am
Wirfs is number 1 PERIOD. .
When Bijan gets 6 straight Pro Bowls as a runner and receiver we can talk about it.
Wirfs could retire now and be in the Hall of Fame.
July 24th, 2026 at 6:23 am
Wirfs is #1. AWJ at #2 is a joke.
July 24th, 2026 at 6:34 am
Antoine Winfield is great when wants to play but seems like once he got paid he disappeared..
July 24th, 2026 at 6:47 am
Lombardo is singing through an auto tune. At 5’9″ and 200lbs, there ain’t much to throw around. I sure hope there is truth to Todd’s misuse of Jr. Last year, because I saw a puny Winfield backpedalling from the line, bouncing off blocks like a little boy, and arriving late on the scene for tackles. He was a shell of his former self. Imo, free agents and draft picks be d@mned, AWJ returning to form is the key to this defense rising in rank. Well, that and if we establish a physical presence in the middle with Trotter (bc AWJ is not intimidating)….a scheme that recognizes the value of a DL pass rush, and…..blah, blah, blah (how long can we say the same stuff over and over and over….)
July 24th, 2026 at 6:50 am
Is there a sport with more hacks writing things that are just not true than football? AW jr hasn’t been great in 3 years. Wirfs is a HOFer and the best player on the team. AW jr is a guy that I wouldn’t mind seeing the Bucs trade if they could fetch a 1st rounder or a solid outside CB.
July 24th, 2026 at 7:43 am
Not only did the mics not pick up the inadvertent whistle, not a single player or referee on the field (including the one who allegedly blew it) seemed to notice the whistle. Only someone in New York seemed to hear the whistle.
July 24th, 2026 at 7:46 am
“Joe was surprised Lombardo picked Winfield only because Winfield, Joe thought, faded as an impact player down the stretch.”
Nope, he didn’t but because he wasn’t making a bunch of splashes doesn’t mean he wasn’t playing good football protecting the boundaries and limiting deep plays over the top.
The only thing about Winfield that was missing last year, is all that comes with him being able to play in and around the tackle box due to the fact we used Tykee more in that role while using the smarter, more experienced Winfield to be the safety valve at the top of the coverage set.
Played 9 games in 2024, was available for every contest this past year and posted the lowest completion % when targeted of his career from the position and had that one game where he almost outscored our offense on two damn plays.
We’re not trading him and eating a $27.8M dead cap, these hypothetical trade scenarios are weird. “lets trade the guy I think stinks and get a 1st round talent for him”
Dude, if you can acknowledge we can get a first round pick for any player, then why the **** are we trading him? Makes zero sense, and kind of contradicts “he sucks” point of trading said player in the first place.
July 24th, 2026 at 7:49 am
Winfields play tailed off after the saints game due to injury….baker isnt the only one who can use that excuse lol
GO BUCS!!!!!
July 24th, 2026 at 8:02 am
Wirfs is a generational talent. That puts him ahead of even Bijan. He has several more all-pro’s ahead of him and judging by what I’m seeing on Instagram, players on other teams better watch out for him even more this year…if that’s even possible.
July 24th, 2026 at 8:28 am
Winfield is one of the most Overpaid players in the league.
July 24th, 2026 at 8:44 am
I find this interesting.
Winfield fan but no way in any world ahead of Wirfs.
July 24th, 2026 at 11:52 am
What NFC South QB would you rather have than Baker? It should been him rather than AW Jr.
July 24th, 2026 at 2:37 pm
31 needs to show up BIG this season.
July 24th, 2026 at 4:05 pm
“What NFC South QB would you rather have than Baker? It should been him rather than AW Jr.”
Top 5 football players, 4 starting QBs compared to 84 non-QB starters. Baker isn’t even top 10 when he’s on the field with our offense and the opposing teams defense, be foreal.
July 24th, 2026 at 4:35 pm
When the season starts they both best play like they are top 5!!! No excuses this season!!!