Position Group: Safeties
Players: Antoine Winfield Jr., Jordan Whitehead (Reserve/Non-Football Injury), Tykee Smith, Mike Edwards, Kaevon Merriweather, Tavierre Thomas, Ryan Neal, Marcus Banks (Reserve/Future), Rashad Wisdom (Reserve/Future), Christian Izien (Reserve/Injured)
2024 Evaluation: The Buccaneers dealt with a plethora of injuries at the safety position in 2024. Tampa Bay had 12 different combinations in the secondary this past season, which hindered continuity. Starters Antoine Winfield Jr. and Jordan Whitehead took the field in Week One and Winfield Jr. missed the next four matchups due to a foot injury and Christian Izien served as his replacement alongside Whitehead for the ensuing four contests. Winfield Jr. and Whitehead were back in tandem for six matchups in the middle of the season, before Whitehead was placed on injured reserve with a pectoral injury he sustained in Week 12, thrusting Mike Edwards into action after he was claimed off waivers during the Week 11 bye. Winfield Jr. then injured his knee and was sidelined for four games, putting Kaevon Merriweather on the field as Izien was placed on IR with a pectoral injury in late December.
The Bucs rarely had their defensive backfield healthy, which resulted in fewer options for Todd Bowles in sub-packages. Winfield Jr., the club's 2023 All-Pro, accumulated three pass breakups, 2.0 sacks, four quarterback hits, and 60 tackles in nine starts in 2024. At the outset of last year's campaign, Winfield Jr. signed a four-year contract extension in May, which briefly made him the highest-paid defensive back in NFL history. He set an unprecedented stat line in 2023, which cemented his place in the upper echelon at the position. Winfield Jr. became the highest graded player by PFF (91.2), and he amassed 6.0 sacks, three interceptions, 12 passes defensed, six forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries, six tackles for loss, 122 tackles and eight quarterback hits in 2023. His high-effort play impacted the outcome of games and set the tone. In 2024, injuries derailed his encore.
Whitehead inked a two-year deal with the Buccaneers in March, bringing the hard-hitting safety back to Tampa Bay after a two-year stint with the New York Jets. He returned to the team that originally drafted him in 2018 after he started 34 games for the Jets in a different role. Whitehead was highly touted for his prowess in the box but with the Jets, he showcased his range while manning the post. In New York, he often set back in Cover Four in pass coverage, enhancing his skillset. In 2024, Whitehead tallied three passed defensed, 79 tackles (second on the team), two tackles for loss and a quarterback hit in 12 game starts. Much like his counterpart, Whitehead's first season back in the Bay donning number-three in red and pewter was impeded by injury. Leading into the Week 18 matchup with the Saints, Whitehead was involved in an auto accident on his way to the facility and was placed on the Reserve/Non-Football Injury list due to injuries sustained in the collision.
Whitehead led the way with 732 snaps, while Winfield Jr. contributed 529. Izien had the second-highest total with 697 snaps and Tykee Smith posted 612. Izien cross-trained at safety during the offseason and filled a variety of roles for Tampa Bay in 2024 as injuries plagued the unit, including nickel back, both free and strong safety, along with corner – a position Izien had not played since high school. The Rutgers star possesses explosion and is a wrap-up tackler. The competitor made an impact for Tampa Bay and rookie Smith made his presence felt at nickel. The Georgia product racked up two interceptions, seven pass breakups, three forced fumbles, 54 tackles, four tackles for loss and two quarterback hits in six game starts (13 games played). Smith was adept at disrupting slot receivers underneath and played with a physical disposition. With a high football IQ that led to his effectiveness at jumping routes, Smith helped solidify the back end. Edwards was claimed during the Week 11 bye and dealt with a hamstring injury, missing two games.
2025 Outlook: Both Ryan Neal and Mike Edwards are unrestricted free agents and Kaevon Merriweather is an exclusive rights free agent, meaning he has two or fewer accrued seasons in the NFL. Additionally, the Bucs have an option on the second year of Whitehead's contract. Tampa Bay's brass will seek to add depth at the position via the draft and/or free agency to bolster the unit.
