It didn’t take long for Antoine Winfield Jr.’s career to take flight in the NFL. He was a starter with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for the first week of the season and has continued to be a star on the field through the first five weeks.

Recent grades released from Pro Football Focus have Winfield currently slated as the highest-graded rookie safety in the NFL right now. Perhaps more impressive, though, is the fact that the former Minnesota star is listed as the 6th-highest graded player among all safeties during the 2020 season.

That’s certainly worthy of some recognition.

Through the first five games of the season, Winfield ranks third in tackles on Tampa Bay’s roster, accounting for 30 stops, 21 of which are solo. He’s also totaled 3 passes defended, 2 sacks, a tackle for loss and a forced fumble.

Tampa Bay is 3-2 on the season.

Winfield was taken in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft after a fantastic final season with the Golden Gophers. It appears that some of those teams may regret not picking up the ex-Minnesota star in the first round, based on his early performance.