PFF sees a Buccaneers defender playing with something to prove in 2025
The Bucs' 2024 season was marred by injury after injury, and it affected the team throughout the season in a litany of ways. They never came at the same time, it never allowed for the team to have much momentum, and it again resulted in a quick playoff exit for them.
A lot of the players on the roster have something to prove but PFF picked one player specifically who will playing with not just a chip but a boulder on his shoulder in 2025.
Zoltan Buday wrote up 10 players with something to prove in 2025, and rounding out his selections were Antoine Winfield Jr. of the Bucs. While the former All-Pro safety did get to play in nine games, he never looked himself during the season and had career lows across the board.
Buday writes, "The Buccaneers made Antoine Winfield Jr. not only the highest-paid safety in the NFL, but also the highest-paid defensive back last offseason. . . .2024 was Winfield's worst season to date in all regards. He played a career-low 601 snaps due to multiple injuries. Even when he was on the field, he did not play like his usual self. His 57.8 PFF overall grade was the lowest of his career, in line with his 50.8 PFF coverage grade and his 125.1 passer rating allowed in coverage. One year after his historic contract extension, Winfield is looking to prove that he is still among the best safeties in the NFL."
Winfield Jr.'s injury coming off that mammoth contract may be a blessing in disguise, though, as most people have new deals to focus on with new players. Thus, it allows the former Golden Gopher to fly under the radar and return to form.
Look for the Bucs' All-Pro safety to start his revenge tour beginning in July at Training Camp.
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The real challenge lay in the mental aspects, the steep learning curve of a new sport. 'Learning a new sport at the highest level, against the best players, is very tough,' he admits. 'Some days, I have to remind myself that I'm still learning. These guys have been playing since they were kids.' He recognised that certain elements, subtle nuances, instinctual reads, and the rhythm of the play, could only be developed over time and through repetition. This mental grind intensified during his time in the NFL's IPP program. 'I expected a gruelling 10 weeks,' he recalls, 'and that's exactly what it was, the hardest 10 weeks of my life.' At IMG Academy in Florida, the conditions were intense: two-a-day practices in sweltering heat and humidity, far from home and loved ones. 'There were times when I would finish my day, realise that everyone back home was asleep, and feel alone. Yet, I still had to study my playbook. It required a lot of adjustment.' For Maguranyanga, Jordan Mailata's journey through the IPP program has been a powerful source of motivation. 'What Jordan has done for the program is massive,' TJ explains. 'He set the standard, and set it very high.' From being seen as a rugby reject to captaining an NFL team and winning a Super Bowl, Mailata's story is proof that with dedication and hard work, international athletes can reach the pinnacle of American football. TJ acknowledges the importance of strong support systems, noting how the Philadelphia Eagles fostered Mailata's growth into an All-Pro player and potential Hall of Famer. 'He's the best to ever come out of the IPP program,' TJ says, looking forward to the day he might face his idol on the field. Mailata's success fuels TJ's belief that regardless of background or initial doubts, perseverance can lead to extraordinary achievement in the NFL. Life with the Commanders Now a member of the Washington Commanders, Maguranyanga is adjusting to the grind of NFL life. 'It's extremely hot and humid here,' he says. But more than the weather, it's the structure that stands out. 'Our days are very long. I'm at the facility at 6 a.m., we practice at 8, and I'm only leaving around 5:30 or 6 p.m. That's before film and learning the playbook.' For someone used to the rhythm of rugby preseason, where training wrapped by early afternoon, the NFL's relentless pace has taken some getting used to. 'There's such a huge focus on watching film and studying the game,' he explained. 'You have to be so dedicated to even have a shot at making the team.' That intensity, both mental and physical, is part of what separates the NFL from any other sporting environment Maguranyanga has experienced. Yet amidst the grind, he's found an unexpected source of strength: the people around him. 'The entire building has been super helpful,' he said. 'From the front office all the way to the scouts. 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3 hours ago
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Cowboys and Micah Parsons negotiations have lagged 2 weeks into training camp, but that doesn't mean Parsons isn't talking with leadership
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