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It feels like Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston has been in the league for ages. In reality, we're approaching the conclusion of year five for the enigmatic signal-caller.
Since being selected with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft out of Florida State University, Tampa Bay has had high hopes for Winston. Through 69 games, his 114:81 TD:INT ratio has been worrisome and the Buccaneers have posted just one winning season with Winston under center. Playing on his fifth-year option previously exercised by the team, Winston will be a free agent at the end of the season. Should Tampa Bay bring him back?
On one hand, Winston has thrown for 4,000-plus yards three times in five seasons with the team. He's also on pace to finish with the most touchdown passes of his career. When he's on, Winston gives Tampa Bay a quarterback that can single-handedly take over games.
On the other hand, the bad version of Winston shows up far more often than the good one. He has been the most turnover prone player in the entire league since making his debut in 2015. This season, Winston's 23 interceptions have him sitting pretty (or ugly) atop the NFL. He has also fumbled the ball 12 times, losing five of them. Winning the turnover battle is one of the leading indicators of team success, and Tampa Bay rarely wins that fight.
Although Winston has been exciting to watch at times, his inconsistent play and proclivity to turn the ball over both limit his ceiling. He's shown very few signs of potentially improving in the future. Yes, he's been through three head coaches. With that, he's also had three chances to reinvent himself as a player and play more intelligent football. The bad outweighs the good.
Head coach Bruce Arians and general manager Jason Licht are going to have a long, difficult discussion at the end of this season. The question at hand: Should the franchise give Winston another shot? The answer shouldn't be yes. He hasn't proven to be worthy of one.
When the Buccaneers exercised Winston's nearly $21 million option for the 2019-20 season, they offered him a final shot. A shot to show Arians and the rest of the organization that he could play winning, mistake-free (or close to it) football. Instead, he has paced the league in interceptions and continues to let the same problems plague him that were red flags heading into the league.
Believers will point to other numbers. Sure, Winston is second in the league in both yards and touchdowns. He's also 17th in QBR, 25th in passer rating, and 29th in completion percentage. Is his career as a starter over? Probably not. Some team along the way will throw Winston in the lineup and hope he sparks their offense. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers would be wise to take their lumps and move on after this season concludes, though.
