The Buccaneers took safety Antoine Winfield Jr. out of the University of Minnesota with the No. 45 pick of the 2020 NFL Draft.
A day after taking Iowa offensive tackle Tristan Wirfs with the 13th pick, Tampa Bay stayed inside the Big Ten, going due north and to the other side of the line of scrimmage by taking a defensive back to bolster their young secondary corps.
The 5-10, 205-pound safety started all 13 games of his redshirt sophomore season for the Gophers. He led the team with 88 tackles, 62 of which were solo, which included 3.5 for loss and three sacks. More than that, Winfield was an absolute ball hawk, tying a school record with seven interceptions, returning one for a touchdown.
Winfield Jr. recorded 177 tackles over his Gopher career, finishing with nine interceptions, returning three for touchdowns.
Winfield is the junior to Antoine Winfield Sr., who is a Jim Thorpe Award winner and attended Ohio State before his 14-year NFL career, nine of which were spent with the Minnesota Vikings.
View pictures of S Antoine Winfield Jr., the 45th overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.
TAMPA, FL - JANUARY 01, 2020 - Safety Antoine Winfield Jr. #11 during the 2020 Outback Bowl game between the Minnesota Golden Gophers and Auburn Tigers at Raymond James Stadium. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Nebraska running back Mikale Wilbon (21) is tackled by Minnesota defensive back KiAnte Hardin (3) and defensive back Antoine Winfield Jr. (11) during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Lincoln, Neb., Saturday, Nov. 12, 2016. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik)
In this Saturday, Nov. 5, 2016, photo, Minnesota defensive back Antoine Winfield Jr. (11) plays during an NCAA college football game against Purdue, in Minneapolis. Winfield and two other players were cleared of sexual harassment allegations in the final round of appeals at the school and will be allowed to return to spring practice, while two more had their suspensions in connection with allegations of a sexual assault upheld. Provost Karen Hanson heard the appeals and upheld the decision to remove one-year suspensions for Winfield, running back Kobe McCrary and quarterback Mark Williams, attorney Ryan Pacyga said Monday, March 20, 2017. (AP Photo/Paul Battaglia)
Minnesota defensive players Antoine Winfield Jr. (11), Kamal Martin (21) and Steven Richardson (96) run off the field after blocking Buffalo from a first down during an NCAA college football game Thursday, Aug. 31, 2017, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Stacy Bengs)
Minnesota defensive back Antoine Winfield Jr. against Middle Tennessee in the first half of a NCAA football game Saturday September 16, 2017, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/John Autey)
Minnesota's Antoine Winfield Jr. (11) is congratulated by teammates after intercepting a pass in the end zone by Fresno State (38) in the fourth quarter of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 8, 2018 in Minneapolis. Minnesota defeated Fresno State 21-14. (AP Photo/Andy Clayton-King)
Miami (Ohio) running back Davion Johnson, middle, rushes between Minnesota defensive back Antoine Winfield Jr. (11) and Minnesota defensive back Antonio Shenault in the first half of an NCAA football game Saturday, Sept. 15, 2018, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn)
Miami (Ohio) running back Davion Johnson, middle, rushes between Minnesota defensive back Antoine Winfield Jr. (11) and Minnesota defensive back Antonio Shenault in the first half of an NCAA football game Saturday, Sept. 15, 2018, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn)
Minnesota defensive back Antoine Winfield Jr. (11) celebrates with teammates Jordan Howden (23) and Braelen Oliver (14) after breaking up a play during an NCAA college football game against South Dakota State, Thursday, Aug. 29, 2019, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Stacy Bengs)
Minnesota defensive back Antoine Winfield Jr. (11) against South Dakota State during an NCAA college football game Thursday, Aug. 29, 2019, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Stacy Bengs)
Minnesota defensive back Antoine Winfield Jr. (11) against South Dakota State during an NCAA college football game Thursday, Aug. 29, 2019, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Stacy Bengs)
Minnesota defensive back Antoine Winfield Jr. during an NCAA football game against South Dakota State Thursday, Aug. 29, 2019 in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Andy Clayton- King)
Purdue running back Zander Horvath (40) runs in for a touchdown in front of Minnesota defensive back Antoine Winfield Jr. (11) during the first half of an NCAA college football game in West Lafayette, Ind., Saturday, Sept. 28, 2019. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Minnesota defensive back Antoine Winfield Jr. (11) plays against Purdue during the first half of an NCAA college football game in West Lafayette, Ind., Saturday, Sept. 28, 2019. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Minnesota defensive back Antoine Winfield Jr. (11) plays against Purdue during the first half of an NCAA college football game in West Lafayette, Ind., Saturday, Sept. 28, 2019. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Minnesota defensive back Antoine Winfield Jr. (11) plays against Purdue during the first half of an NCAA college football game in West Lafayette, Ind., Saturday, Sept. 28, 2019. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Minnesota defensive back Antoine Winfield Jr. (11) plays against Purdue during the first half of an NCAA college football game in West Lafayette, Ind., Saturday, Sept. 28, 2019. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Minnesota defensive back Antoine Winfield Jr. (11) plays against Purdue during the first half of an NCAA college football game in West Lafayette, Ind., Saturday, Sept. 28, 2019. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Minnesota defensive back Antoine Winfield Jr. gets ready for a play by Illinois in the first quarter of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 5, 2019, in Minneapolis. Minnesota won 40-17. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn)
Minnesota defensive back Antoine Winfield Jr. during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 12, 2019, in Minneapolis. Minnesota won 34-7. (AP Photo/Stacy Bengs)
Minnesota defensive back Antoine Winfield Jr. during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 12, 2019, in Minneapolis. Minnesota won 34-7. (AP Photo/Stacy Bengs)
Minnesota defensive back Antoine Winfield Jr. (11) and defensive back Jordan Howden (23) celebrate after Winfield intercepts the ball for a touchdown during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Rutgers Saturday, Oct. 19, 2019, in Piscataway, N.J. (AP Photo/Sarah Stier)
Minnesota defensive lineman Tai'yon Devers (12), defensive lineman Esezi Otomewo (9), and defensive back Antoine Winfield Jr. (11) tackle Rutgers wide receiver Bo Melton (18) during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 19, 2019, in Piscataway, N.J. (AP Photo/Sarah Stier)
Minnesota defensive back Antoine Winfield Jr. (11) runs with the ball past Maryland offensive lineman Sean Christie (70) during an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 26, 2019, in Minneapolis. Minnesota won 52-10. (AP Photo/Stacy Bengs)
Minnesota defensive back Antoine Winfield Jr. (11) during an NCAA college football game against Maryland, Saturday, Oct. 26, 2019, in Minneapolis. Minnesota won 52-10. (AP Photo/Stacy Bengs)
Minnesota defensive back Antoine Winfield Jr. (11) intercepts the ball intended for Penn State wide receiver Justin Shorter (6) during an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 9, 2019, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Stacy Bengs)
Minnesota defensive back Antoine Winfield Jr. (11) prior to an NCAA college football game against Penn State, Saturday, Nov. 9, 2019, in Minneapolis. Minnesota won 31-26. (AP Photo/Stacy Bengs)
Minnesota defensive back Antoine Winfield Jr. (11) on field against Penn State during an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 9, 2019, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Stacy Bengs)
Minnesota defensive back Antoine Winfield Jr. (11) during an NCAA college football game against Wisconsin, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2019, in Minneapolis. Wisconsin won 38-17. (AP Photo/Stacy Bengs)
Minnesota defensive back Antoine Winfield Jr. (11) during an NCAA college football game against Wisconsin, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2019, in Minneapolis. Wisconsin won 38-17. (AP Photo/Stacy Bengs)
FILE - In this Sept. 28, 2019, file photo, Minnesota defensive back Antoine Winfield Jr. (11) plays against Purdue during the first half of an NCAA college football game, in West Lafayette, Ind. Winfield was selected to the AP All-Big Ten Conference team, Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2019. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy, File)
FILE - In this Nov. 30, 2019, file photo. Minnesota defensive back Antoine Winfield Jr. (11) gestures during an NCAA college football game against Wisconsin, in Minneapolis. Winfield was selected to The Associated Press All-America team, Monday, Dec. 16, 2019. (AP Photo/Stacy Bengs, File)
Minnesota defensive back Antoine Winfield Jr. speaks during a press conference at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, Feb. 28, 2020. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)
Minnesota safety Antoine Winfield Jr. poses for a portrait during the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine, Wednesday, Feb. 29, 2020 in Indianapolis. (Todd Rosenberg via AP)
Minnesota safety Antoine Winfield Jr. poses for a portrait during the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine, Wednesday, Feb. 29, 2020 in Indianapolis. (Todd Rosenberg via AP)
Minnesota safety Antoine Winfield Jr. poses for a portrait during the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine, Wednesday, Feb. 29, 2020 in Indianapolis. (Todd Rosenberg via AP)
Minnesota safety Antoine Winfield Jr. poses for a portrait during the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine, Wednesday, Feb. 29, 2020 in Indianapolis. (Todd Rosenberg via AP)
Minnesota safety Antoine Winfield Jr. poses for a portrait during the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine, Wednesday, Feb. 29, 2020 in Indianapolis. (Todd Rosenberg via AP)
Minnesota safety Antoine Winfield Jr. poses for a portrait during the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine, Wednesday, Feb. 29, 2020 in Indianapolis. (Todd Rosenberg via AP)
Minnesota safety Antoine Winfield Jr. poses for a portrait during the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine, Wednesday, Feb. 29, 2020 in Indianapolis. (Todd Rosenberg via AP)
Minnesota safety Antoine Winfield Jr. poses for a portrait during the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine, Wednesday, Feb. 29, 2020 in Indianapolis. (Todd Rosenberg via AP)
Minnesota defensive back Antoine Winfield Jr. runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, March 1, 2020. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Minnesota defensive back Antoine Winfield Jr. runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, March 1, 2020. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Minnesota defensive back Antoine Winfield Jr. runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, March 1, 2020. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Minnesota defensive back Antoine Winfield Jr. runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, March 1, 2020. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Minnesota defensive back Antoine Winfield Jr. runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, March 1, 2020. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Minnesota defensive back Antoine Winfield Jr. runs the 40-yard dash during the NFL football scouting combine, Sunday, March 1, 2020, in Indianapolis. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)
Minnesota defensive back Antoine Winfield Jr. runs the 40-yard dash during the NFL football scouting combine, Sunday, March 1, 2020, in Indianapolis. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)
Minnesota defensive back Antoine Winfield Jr. participates in a drill during the NFL football scouting combine, Sunday, March 1, 2020, in Indianapolis. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)
Minnesota defensive back Antoine Winfield Jr. participates in a drill during the NFL football scouting combine, Sunday, March 1, 2020, in Indianapolis. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)
Minnesota defensive back Antoine Winfield Jr. participates in a drill during the NFL football scouting combine, Sunday, March 1, 2020, in Indianapolis. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)
Minnesota defensive back Antoine Winfield Jr. participates in a drill during the NFL football scouting combine, Sunday, March 1, 2020, in Indianapolis. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)
Minnesota defensive back Antoine Winfield Jr. participates in a drill during the NFL football scouting combine, Sunday, March 1, 2020, in Indianapolis. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)
Minnesota defensive back Antoine Winfield Jr. participates in a drill during the NFL football scouting combine, Sunday, March 1, 2020, in Indianapolis. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)
Minnesota defensive back Antoine Winfield Jr. participates in a drill during the NFL football scouting combine, Sunday, March 1, 2020, in Indianapolis. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)
Minnesota defensive back Antoine Winfield Jr. participates in a drill during the NFL football scouting combine, Sunday, March 1, 2020, in Indianapolis. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)
Minnesota defensive back Antoine Winfield Jr. looks on during the NFL football scouting combine, Sunday, March 1, 2020, in Indianapolis. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)
Minnesota defensive back Antoine Winfield Jr. participates in a drill during the NFL football scouting combine, Sunday, March 1, 2020, in Indianapolis. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)
Minnesota safety Antoine Winfield Jr. poses for a portrait during the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine, Saturday, Feb. 29, 2020 in Indianapolis. (Todd Rosenberg via AP)
Minnesota safety Antoine Winfield Jr. poses for a portrait during the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine, Saturday, Feb. 29, 2020 in Indianapolis. (Todd Rosenberg via AP)
Minnesota safety Antoine Winfield Jr. poses for a portrait during the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine, Saturday, Feb. 29, 2020 in Indianapolis. (Todd Rosenberg via AP)
Minnesota safety Antoine Winfield Jr. poses for a portrait during the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine, Saturday, Feb. 29, 2020 in Indianapolis. (Todd Rosenberg via AP)
Minnesota safety Antoine Winfield Jr. poses for a portrait during the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine, Saturday, Feb. 29, 2020 in Indianapolis. (Todd Rosenberg via AP)
Minnesota safety Antoine Winfield Jr. poses on set for the NFL network film crew during the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine, Saturday, Feb. 29, 2020 in Indianapolis. (Todd Rosenberg via AP)
Minnesota safety Antoine Winfield Jr. poses on set for the NFL network film crew during the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine, Saturday, Feb. 29, 2020 in Indianapolis. (Todd Rosenberg via AP)
Minnesota safety Antoine Winfield Jr. poses on set for the NFL network film crew during the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine, Saturday, Feb. 29, 2020 in Indianapolis. (Todd Rosenberg via AP)
