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NFL's highest-paid safeties list: Ranking the top salaries for the position in 2024

This offseason, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers made Antoine Winfield Jr. the NFL's highest-paid defensive back.

Winfield had received the franchise tag from the Buccaneers in March ahead of NFL free agency. Had he remained on the deal, he would have earned a fully guaranteed $17.1 million for 2024. Instead, Winfield received a much more lucrative deal.

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Who is the highest-paid safety in the NFL?

Winfield will make an average of $21.025 million per season on his new four-year deal with the Buccaneers.

Antoine Winfield Jr. earned his first All-Pro nod during the 2023 season.
Antoine Winfield Jr. earned his first All-Pro nod during the 2023 season.

2024 NFL safety salary rankings

Here are the safety salary rankings based on average annual value, according to Over The Cap:

1. Antoine Winfield, Jr., Tampa Bay Buccaneers: $21 million (4 years, $84.1 million)

2. Derwin James, Los Angeles Chargers: $19 million (4 years, $76 million)

3. Minkah Fitzpatrick, Pittsburgh Steelers: $18.24 million (4 years, $72.98 million)

4. Xavier McKinney, Green Bay Packers: $16.75 million (4 years, $67 million)

5. Jessie Bates III, Atlanta Falcons: $16 million (4 years, $64 million)

6. Kyle Dugger, New England Patriots: $14.5 million (4 years, $58 million)

7. Budda Baker, Arizona Cardinals: $14.1 million (2 years, $28.2 million)

8. Marcus Williams, Baltimore Ravens: $14 million (5 years, $70 million)

9 (tie). Grant Delpit, Cleveland Browns: $12 million (3 years, $36 million)

9 (tie). Jalen Thompson, Arizona Cardinals: $12 million (3 years, $36 million)

11. Justin Reid, Kansas City Chiefs: $10.5 million (3 years, $31.5 million)

12. Amani Hooker, Tennessee Titans: $10 million (3 years, $30 million)

13 (tie). Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, Philadelphia Eagles: $9 million (3 years, $27 million)

13 (tie). Harrison Smith, Minnesota Vikings: $9 million (1 year, $9 million)

15. Kevin Byard, Chicago Bears: $7.5 million (2 years, $15 million)

16. Darnell Savage Jr., Jacksonville Jaguars: $7.3 million (3 years, $21.8 million)

17 (tie). Malik Hooker, Dallas Cowboys: $7 million (3 years, $21 million)

17 (tie). Juan Thornhill, Cleveland Browns: $7 million (3 years, $21 million)

17 (tie). Donovan Wilson, Dallas Cowboys: $7 million (3 years, $21 million)

17 (tie). Geno Stone, Cincinnati Bengals: $7 million (2 years, $14 million)

21. Tyrann Mathieu, New Orleans Saints: $6.9 million (2 years, $13.8 million)

Here’s the highest-paid list for all the positions

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Highest-paid NFL safeties: Ranking top 2024 salaries for the position