logo
Bucs' Safety Falls in NFL Position Rankings

Bucs' Safety Falls in NFL Position Rankings

Yahoo16-07-2025
Bucs' Safety Falls in NFL Position Rankings originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers defense took a step back last season as the unit suffered injuries to key players and poor play from replacements.
Advertisement
Ranking near the bottom of most defensive categories to end the season, Todd Bowles' unit hopes to rebound this year. General manager Jason Licht addressed the defense in free agency and in the draft this year, hoping some fresh faces will contribute to a rebound.
But a return to health will also be a positive factor.
After placing at No. 1 in the safety rankings last offseason, Antoine Winfield Jr. fell to No. 7 this season in ESPN's Jeremy Fowler's rankings, admittedly due to his injuries last season.
"Winfield's lack of splash in 2024 was noticeable, especially coming off an all-world performance the previous season that earned him a four-year, $84 million contract extension," Fowler wrote. "Injuries held Winfield to nine games, and he never got in a rhythm of disrupting the football. He finished the season with zero interceptions, 3 pass deflections, 2 sacks and zero forced fumbles. That was a big drop from 2023, when he recorded 6 sacks, 6 forced fumbles, 4 fumble recoveries and 3 interceptions. 'He plays just like his dad [former NFL cornerback Antoine Winfield], great tackler, always around the ball,' an NFL coordinator said. 'But with his size mixed with that physicality, you worry about his durability, and that showed up last year.'
Advertisement
"Voters are largely willing to give Winfield a pass for last year. After all, he is still in his prime."
Winfield is expected to be a big part of the Bucs' defense this season, alongside Christian Izien, Tykee Smith, Zyon McCollum and newcomers Jacob Parrish and Benjamin Morrison.
Related: Falcons QB Pays Buccaneers Huge Compliment
Related: Buccaneers' Improved Position Group Gets Sour Offseason Ranking
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 10, 2025, where it first appeared.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Marco Wilson injury: Bengals defensive back hurt during training camp, could miss weeks
Marco Wilson injury: Bengals defensive back hurt during training camp, could miss weeks

Yahoo

time9 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

Marco Wilson injury: Bengals defensive back hurt during training camp, could miss weeks

Cincinnati Bengals defensive back Marco Wilson suffered an apparent injury during training camp near Paycor Stadium. Bengals head coach Zac Taylor didn't provide details about Wilson's injury after Sunday's practice, but did designate Wilson as "week to week" because of it. During the Bengals' Week 16 win against Cleveland in 2024, head coach Zac Taylor didn't appear to be happy with officials after Wilson was flagged for defensive pass interference for his coverage of Browns receiver Jerry Jeudy during the third quarter. The Bengals claimed Wilson off waivers in November 2024. Wilson, a fourth-round pick out of Florida in the 2021 NFL draft, also has played for the New England Patriots and the Arizona Cardinals. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Marco Wilson injury: Bengals DB week to week with unspecified issue

Tennessee sophomore Boo Carter's Rocky Top return '50/50' amid fall camp uncertainty
Tennessee sophomore Boo Carter's Rocky Top return '50/50' amid fall camp uncertainty

Yahoo

time16 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

Tennessee sophomore Boo Carter's Rocky Top return '50/50' amid fall camp uncertainty

The Tennessee Volunteers are just days away from kicking off fall camp as they prepare for their season opener against Syracuse. However, an unfortunate situation has overshadowed the team's preseason buzz — and it doesn't involve players gearing up for the field. Sophomore Boo Carter has missed numerous team activities, and it's not sitting well within the program. 'Tennessee sophomore defensive back Boo Carter is expected to be one of the Volunteers' best players in 2025 on defense, offense and special teams, but his status with the team is unclear as we inch closer to August. Carter has missed 'numerous' team activities and was even confronted by team leaders because of his absences, according to the Knoxville News Sentinel,' CBS Sports' Jordan Dajani wrote. Adding to the drama, Carter has also blindsided his former agent. Apparently, the agent didn't even know he'd been replaced, as Carter and his mother have been unresponsive regarding the matter. 'I did represent Boo. However, I'm not sure I still do," Isaac Conner wrote in a text message to CBS Sports. "He has been non responsive and so has his mother. They posted something about Omar Cooper representing him and advising him now." Head coach Josh Heupel has made it clear that no individual is bigger than the Power T — not even himself — and he reportedly wouldn't hesitate to move on from Carter if necessary. If Carter is dismissed from the program, he's already been linked to a Big 12 school. For now, the outcome remains uncertain. 'We'll see how this situation plays out. For now, it feels like it's 50/50 on whether Carter plays for the Volunteers this fall,' A to Z Sports' Zach Ragan wrote. Follow The Sporting News on WhatsApp There's no denying that Carter is a vital part of Tennessee's roster, but Heupel isn't known for compromising team standards. Fall camp begins July 30, and Heupel is expected to meet with the media beforehand to address lingering questions. As it stands, Carter's future with the program is completely up in the air.

Dallas hosts New York following Ionescu's 30-point outing
Dallas hosts New York following Ionescu's 30-point outing

Yahoo

time39 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

Dallas hosts New York following Ionescu's 30-point outing

New York Liberty (17-7, 10-2 Eastern Conference) at Dallas Wings (7-19, 3-12 Western Conference) Arlington, Texas; Monday, 8 p.m. EDT BOTTOM LINE: New York Liberty visits the Dallas Wings after Sabrina Ionescu scored 30 points in the Liberty's 101-99 loss to the Los Angeles Sparks. The Wings are 4-8 in home games. Dallas leads the Western Conference in rebounding, averaging 36.7 boards. Myisha Hines-Allen leads the Wings with 5.3 rebounds. The Liberty are 5-4 on the road. New York leads the Eastern Conference with 21.8 assists. Natasha Cloud paces the Liberty with 5.9. Dallas is shooting 41.5% from the field this season, 0.1 percentage points lower than the 41.6% New York allows to opponents. New York averages 87.9 points per game, 1.3 more than the 86.6 Dallas allows to opponents. The matchup Monday is the first meeting of the season between the two teams. TOP PERFORMERS: Arike Ogunbowale is averaging 16 points and 3.9 assists for the Wings. Paige Bueckers is averaging 15.0 points over the last 10 games. Cloud is averaging 10.4 points and 5.9 assists for the Liberty. Ionescu is averaging 18.9 points over the last 10 games. LAST 10 GAMES: Wings: 3-7, averaging 82.3 points, 36.4 rebounds, 20.8 assists, 7.1 steals and 4.1 blocks per game while shooting 42.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 89.0 points per game. Liberty: 6-4, averaging 88.1 points, 33.1 rebounds, 22.0 assists, 8.5 steals and 5.2 blocks per game while shooting 45.3% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 84.2 points. INJURIES: Wings: Maddy Siegrist: out (knee), Tyasha Harris: out for season (knee). Liberty: Nyara Sabally: out (knee). ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store