Finding high-level cornerback play in the NFL can be difficult. Teams will often find themselves spending top draft picks or throwing tons of money at free agents to bring them to their team. Not too often do players like Antoine Winfield fall into teams’ laps.
After five solid seasons with the with Buffalo Bills, Winfield joined the Vikings in 2004 and stayed with the team through the 2012 NFL season. He played in 119 games for Minnesota in those nine seasons, starting in 115 of those.
Known as a great tackler with solid coverage skills, he was easily the team’s top cornerback. During his tenure with the Vikings, Winfield intercepted 21 passes for two touchdowns, while adding 729 total tackles and 6.5 sacks.
Despite the struggles of the Vikings defense during many of the years Winfield was in Minnesota, it’s hard to imagine how much worse this team would have been without the tackling and coverage of their star free agent signing. He is truly one of the greats to ever wear a Vikings uniform.