Jameis Winston, who’s serving as a digital correspondent for FOX Sports all through the week of Super Bowl LIX, is ready to be one of many higher quarterbacks accessible in NFL free company.
Actually, at Opening Night, Winston polled some Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles gamers on the place he ought to play subsequent. Some responded by saying he may be part of their respective crew, whereas one supplied an fascinating possibility.
Roughly one-third of the league may probably have a brand new beginning quarterback subsequent season, however solely so few that do want one are positioned to get a quarterback of their selecting with their first-round draft decide. With that in thoughts, the 31-year-old Winston, a one-time Professional Bowler, provides groups a good short-term possibility.
Listed here are the 5 greatest free-agent matches for Winston.
Bryce Young got here on sturdy on the finish of the 2024 common season. On the similar time, that respectable play got here after coming in for an injured Andy Dalton, who turned Carolina’s starter when Younger was benched after Week 2. So, Younger may get benched once more. On the naked minimal, Winston can push Younger in the summertime and provides head coach Dave Canales, who may probably be on the new seat with one other shaky season (the Panthers went 5-12 in his first season on the helm), a viable various ought to Younger’s play necessitate a change.
Now, Winston’s play with the Cleveland Browns this season had its flaws, particularly him throwing 12 interceptions in as many video games. However, he helped Cleveland get a pair of spectacular victories over the NFC North-rival Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers, and he has frequently proven that he is unfazed by taking probabilities downfield. For an offense that was thirtieth within the NFL in passing final season (187.5 passing yards per recreation), Winston’s mentality would bode effectively for the Panthers. That stated, Carolina might want to financial institution on Younger taking the following step and re-sign Dalton, sticking with those that greatest know Canales’ offense.
The world is the Titans’ oyster this offseason, as they’ve the primary total decide within the 2025 NFL Draft and almost $45 million in cap area, per OverTheCap.com. Including a compelling, veteran signal-caller like Winston is smart for Tennessee no matter how their offseason performs out.
For the sake of this train, for instance that the Titans signed Winston to the going charge for a backup quarterback/1B starter (e.g. a two-year, $19 million deal). Ought to or not it’s enamored by Colorado‘s Shedeur Sanders or Miami‘s Cam Ward — the consensus prime two quarterback prospects on this 12 months’s draft — Tennessee may choose one of many two quarterbacks, who then should beat out Winston for the beginning job. Ought to Winston battle mightily, head coach Brian Callahan could make the change. But when Winston performs effectively, maybe Tennessee may flip him for a mid-round draft decide on the NFL commerce deadline or ensuing offseason?
One other state of affairs is that Tennessee would not view Sanders or Ward as a franchise quarterback and as an alternative takes a “generational talent,” within the phrases of latest common supervisor Mike Borgonzi. That participant may very well be Colorado two-way star Travis Hunter or Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter. Within the Titans’ thoughts, they get one of the best prospect within the draft and proceed to play it by ear at quarterback till a quarterback enters the draft that they assume may develop into a star.
What may halt the keenness for the Titans signing Winston, although, is the presence of Will Levis. The Titans may all the time give the 2023 second-rounder one other shot at beginning or have him backup whoever they take with the No. 1 decide.
It is easy: Tua Tagovailoa continues to endure ugly head accidents, and Miami’s offense craters with out him. Winston could be a powerful pickup for the Dolphins. Whereas Winston’s turnovers and inconsistency over his 10-year profession have plagued him, he is definitely able to beginning and holding down the fort for an intensive interval. Moreover, Winston has discovered success taking part in with nice playmakers, doing so with Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, amongst others, with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and led the New Orleans Saints to a 5-2 begin in 2021 earlier than tearing his ACL. In Miami, he would probably have Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle on the skin and versatile working backs Raheem Mostert and De’Von Achane to set him up for fulfillment.
Over the previous three years, Tagovailoa’s absence has been crippling for the Dolphins. Within the four-game stretch that he missed early within the 2024 season, Miami went 1-3 and averaged simply 10 factors per recreation. The Dolphins have been nonetheless within the playoff combine in Week 18 however misplaced to the then-4-12 New York Jets with out Tagovailoa (hip) to shut out the season. Within the 2022 playoffs, the Dolphins misplaced on the highway to the Buffalo Bills within the wild-card spherical by one rating with third-string quarterback Skylar Thompson. With simply barely higher quarterback play behind Tagovailoa, the Dolphins may’ve performed deeper into January within the 2022 season and the one which simply concluded.
Winston is a perfect goal for the Dolphins, however there are a pair of different groups that would provide the veteran the potential of beginning the whole 2025 season.
A technique or one other, the Giants want so as to add one, if not two quarterbacks, this offseason. New York pays Winston market worth to be its Week 1 starter. With the Giants, Winston has a star receiver in Malik Nabers to focus on and a few younger pass-catchers, equivalent to huge receiver Wan’Dale Robinson and tight finish Theo Johnson, who may very well be extra impactful with higher quarterback play. Winston offers the Giants a quarterback who’s prepared to take probabilities, whereas former quarterback Daniel Jones may very well be hesitant to take probabilities and Drew Lock struggled all through the majority of the 5 video games that he began this season.
As for the draft, New York owns the third total decide. Ought to a quarterback they deem worthy of choosing attain them, the Giants can take that participant and have them sit behind Winston till head coach Brian Daboll feels it is time to make a change. If Sanders and/or Ward do not make it to No. 3, the Giants can take Hunter and both draft a quarterback within the second spherical, commerce up into the again finish of the primary spherical for one or simply take one of the best participant on the board with every of their picks and postpone including a younger quarterback for a 12 months. They have been 3-14 for a motive: depth is required throughout the board. Winston offers New York an improve at quarterback and would not hinder its draft irrespective of how the board shakes out.
Winston and the Giants are a match; even former Giants working again Saquon Barkley concurs with that notion. That stated, there is a crew that makes only a little extra sense for Winston.
Saquon Barkley suggests Jameis Winston to signal with Giants in free company
A 3-14 season would not scream “hope,” however Winston and the Browns re-upping for one more 12 months is a prudent play. For starters, Deshaun Watson lately suffered a setback in his rehab from an Achilles tendon rupture and will miss the whole 2025 season. This comes after he was benched in favor of third-stringer Dorian Thompson-Robinson in December 2024. Cleveland wants a beginning quarterback, and Winston already has seven begins in head coach Kevin Stefanski’s system underneath his belt. There’s additionally the latest improvement of famous person defensive finish Myles Garrett requesting a trade from the Browns. Ought to Garrett get moved, it would probably ship the Browns into an entrenched rebuild. At that time, why would the Browns power something?
Certainly, the Browns may take a look at Sanders or Ward and see a quarterback price choosing with the second total decide within the draft. If they do not, nevertheless, there’s benefit behind taking one of the best participant on the board (e.g. Hunter or Carter), giving Winston one other 12 months because the starter and taking part in it secure on the place till a clear-cut, long-term reply presents itself of their eyes.
Winston retains the ship upright, and the Browns construct out their roster within the draft and in free company when a chance to signal an ascending participant not but of their prime presents itself. And from Winston’s perspective, he will get the prospect to enter a season as a beginning quarterback for the primary time since 2022. Generally a mutually helpful relationship drops out of the sky. That is what Winston and the Browns are for one another: being in the fitting place on the proper time.
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