Veteran quarterback Jameis Winston will be a free agent at the end of the 2024 season, and he could draw some interest with his recent play. Taking over for an injured and ineffective Deshaun Watson, the former first-overall pick has gone 2-2 in his four starts while completing 62.2% of his passes for 1,266 yards, seven touchdowns, and four interceptions. He’s done all this without wide receiver Amari Cooper, who joined the Bills before Winston took over as the starter.
The Florida State product and 10-year veteran is not a franchise quarterback and will not live up to his first-overall draft status. However, he’s a top-32 quarterback in the league and could land a short-term starting job with a team like the Carolina Panthers, New Orleans Saints, or Indianapolis Colts. However, in a recent interview, Jameis Winston says he wants to return to the Browns as a free agent and fight for the starting job next year.
“I’ve truly embraced this city. I love the hard nose, I love the beautiful trees three months out the year. I’m grateful for the fans challenging me. I’m grateful for the fans lifting me up. I’m grateful for you all challenging me and lifting me up.”
Browns Jameis Winston Gives Preferred Free Agent Destination
It’s safe to say that the present-day version of Jameis Winston is considerably better than Deshaun Watson. After a strong start to his career, the controversial quarterback has been the league’s worst passer since joining the Cleveland Browns. Despite having a strong defense and reliable weapons, the team went 1-6 under Watson as the quarterback completed 63.4% of his passes for 1,148 yards, 5.3 yards per attempt, five touchdowns, and three interceptions while ranking at or near the bottom of every meaningful quarterback metric.
Watson’s disastrous contract ensures he will return in 2025, but the Browns want to add competition. That could come from the NFL Draft, as Watson’s $72.9 million cap hit next year will make it difficult for Cleveland to re-sign Winston. If he follows the highest bidder, these three teams could be his next home.
Possible Destinations
Recent reports indicate the Panthers could trade Bryce Young despite his recent uptick in play. As of this posting, head coach Dave Canales does not believe Young is a franchise quarterback and could try his luck with his handpicked successor. However, they should add a competent veteran to the mix to ensure a rookie won’t have to start right out of the gate. With Andy Dalton set to test the open market, Jameis Winston could be the best choice on the free agent market.
Even though he’s the current starter, it’s hard to envision the Colts sticking with Anthony Richardson beyond 2024. The former first-round pick earned a spot on the bench midway through the season and only returned because Joe Flacco struggled. Head coach Shane Steichen does not believe in Richardson, and the Florida product has not played well this year. The Colts have a playoff-caliber team and a quarterback like Jameis Winston could get them into the postseason.
Winston could also return to the Saints if New Orleans moves on from Derek Carr. The quarterback had a decent tenure there, playing well in 2021 before losing the job in 2022 under former head coach Dennis Allen. Depending on who they hire to replace Allen, a strong-armed quarterback like Winston could be the ideal short-term option for a team with a questionable offensive line and two reliable downfield threats.
Main Photo: Ken Blaze – USA Today Sports
