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Quarterback Jameis Winston has developed into a fascinating case study for winning football games. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who have employed him as their full-time quarterback since selecting him with the first overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft, face a decision this offseason. Should they attempt to sign six-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady?
As Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network points out, should Tampa Bay exert energy into trying to sign Brady, and what happens if Winston is off the board?
From NFL Now: If the #Bucs do make a run at #Patriots QB Tom Brady, as @NFLSTROUD said, what if Jameis Winston is gone by the time they turn their attention back to him? pic.twitter.com/xZA3tHEtUO
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 12, 2020
While Brady is the crown jewel that many franchises will covet when free agency opens next Wednesday, there could be organizations that haven't made their intentions as well known when it comes to Winston.
Last season, Winston led the league with 5,109 passing yards on a league-high 626 pass attempts. While his volume was prolific, so were his interceptions (30). A one-time Pro Bowl selection, Winston has shown both polar ends of his production spectrum over the last few seasons with Tampa Bay, which could convince opposing organizations to either dive in or back away.
The Buccaneers are attempting to snap a playoff drought that dates back to 2007. As the landscape of the NFL has changed over the last decade, having an adept signal caller able to work within a specific offense has become more paramount to success than ever before. Head coach Bruce Arians will be entering his second year at the helm, so he too will likely have some input into whether not nabbing Winston on a long-term deal right out of the gate is a worthy risk to take.
