Six-year NFL quarterback Jameis Winston has signed a one-year contract worth up to $12 million with the New Orleans Saints. Winston, a former first-round pick, spent last season as a backup with the Saints. Prior to that, Winston was with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, as their franchise quarterback, for five seasons.
Jameis Winston reached agreement on a one-year deal worth up to $12 million with the Saints, per league source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 16, 2021
Jameis Winston, New Orleans Saints, Agree to Contract
Jameis Winston spent the 2020 season backing up Drew Brees and Taysom Hill. Many expected Winston to get the starting job when Brees went down mid-season with an injury. Alas, it was Hill that ended up with the starting job during Brees’s absence. Hill proved to be a solid choice though, as he led the Saints to a 3-1 record during his time as the starter.
Jameis Winston initially entered the league in 2015 as the first overall pick of the NFL draft. Selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Winston threw over 4000 yards his rookie season. Additionally, Winston led the Buccaneers to a 6-10 record. This was a four-win improvement from the previous season.
In total, Jameis Winston spent five years with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. During his time there, Winston compiled a 28-42 record as a starter. In five seasons, he threw for more than 19,000 yards with 121 touchdowns and 88 interceptions. His quarterback rate, as a starter in Tampa Bay, averages out to a respectable 86.9. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers never made the playoffs with Jameis Winston as their starter. This is despite finishing with a 9-7 record during the 2016 season.
After spending one year in “quarterback school” as a backup to Drew Brees, Jameis Winston may finally be ready to be a starting quarterback again. No one has ever questioned if Winston was talented enough to be a franchise quarterback. His issue has always been poor decision making both on and off the field. With that being said, he does seem to have grown in all aspects of his life. If given another chance, there is no reason why Winston would not be able to thrive as a starter again.
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