Minnesota Football: Antoine Winfield Jr. may be steal of 2020 NFL Draft

Antoine Winfield Jr. has the pedigree and the grit to be a good NFL player. Is the Minnesota football star the steal of the 2020 NFL Draft?

It’s hard not to like Antoine Winfield Jr. Not just because of the pedigree as his father, Antoine Winfield Sr. was one of the best defensive backs of his era but because he has been lauded by his coaches and fellow teammates as a hard worker as well as his leadership both on and off the field. He’s just one of those kids you hope does well.

There are a lot of things you will hear analysts say he does not do well that he’s not the “prototypical” size for an NFL safety.

Winfield is a player; just put on the tape and watch.

Although he might not be as good as his father, he has the will to be a starter for a decade in the NFL, barring injury.

Strengths

Winfield is a baller. He’s a ball-hawk and his ball instincts are off the chart. There are not many safeties in the game that change where a quarterback wants to go with the ball but Winfield is one of them. Though he’s only 5-9 and barely over 200 pounds, Antoine does not shy away from contact. He will support the run game.

Winfield is super versatile. He covers his deep half of the field and can come down and cover the slot. He reads the quarterback and anticipates as well as any defensive back in this draft. Winfield is disciplined as a defender. When he covers the slot or his deep half, he does not drift in coverage.

Moreover, he understands the game; he grew up analyzing film with his dad who had a reputation as a film-junkie as a player. He is a natural at creating turnovers and he knows how to punch at the ball to create fumbles and he tracks the ball well while it is in the air which translated into seven interceptions this past season at Minnesota.

Weaknesses

The biggest concern with Winfield is his durability. He missed significant time in 2017 and 2018 playing in eight games total in those two seasons. At 5-9 and 203 pounds, his durability is a legitimate concern and might be what causes him to fall in the draft.

Former Chicago Bear Mike Brown comes to mind when thinking of the worst-case scenario for Winfield. He had Pro Bowl-level talent, but his body was fragile and two knee injuries shortened his playing career.

With so many tall wide receivers, he struggles to high-point the ball at his hight. Not only is he under-sized for a safety in the NFL, but he also is not long.

He relies on his fundamentals heavily when tackling. However, he struggles to wrap up when he is out of position due to his lack of length. Despite being a sound and heady player, his physical limitations drop his overall ceiling at the professional level.

Draft Projection

You win championships with guys like Winfield. He might not be a superstar, but he is a player you build a roster with. His heart will carve out an NFL career for him.

Winfield’s best comp is former Indianapolis Colts safety Bob Sanders. He was undersized coming out of Iowa but had a solid NFL career. Ironically, Sanders struggled with injuries as well.

Even with those concerns, Winfield might be the best value pick in the top 100 if he can stay healthy. Seattle at pick No. 64 need a safety, but Winfield might not be there. Green Bay is always interesting because they usually stay true to their board and take the best player on their board after round 1.

It’s hard to imagine Winfield not being the best player on their board that late in round 2.

Projection: Mid-to-late second (picks 57-64)