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Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Marcus Mariota vs. Jameis Winston

By Luis Tirado Jr.

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With the 2015 NFL Draft almost upon us, the ultimate decision that faces the Tampa Bay Buccaneers is which quarterback to draft with their No. 1 overall pick that will change the face of the franchise for years to come.

Whether they go with Marcus Mariota or Jameis Winston, it will truly determine if their selection will turn their franchise around for the better or if in a few years time it’ll end up one big mistake where they will have to go back to the drawing board.

One thing for sure though, it is in my opinion that out of these two quarterbacks, one is the clear cut choice.

To me, Mariota is the safer pick and has much more upside than Winston. In just three years in his collegiate career in Oregon, he totaled 10,796 yards, 105 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions for an overall quarterback rating of 171.8.

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Jan 12, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; Oregon Ducks quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) warms up before the game against the Ohio State Buckeyes in the 2015 CFP National Championship Game at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

Of course in the kind of high-tempo offense that Mariota played in his entire career, his numbers will be skewed heavily in his favor. It raises the question if he can produce similar results in a pro-style offense, under center and sticking to reading defensive schemes to find weaknesses.

I believe Mariota has a very high football IQ and if the Buccaneers take him, he’ll have no major problems grasping an NFL playbook and executing to his highest ability. Make no mistake about it, Mariota might have some bumps along the road but he’ll pick things up quickly and start lighting up the scoreboard in no time.

Winston also had some pretty impressive numbers at Florida State. In just two years in his collegiate career, he totaled 7,964 yards, 65 touchdowns and 28 interceptions for an overall quarterback rating of 163.3.

A natural born play-maker, Winston is a prototypical quarterback that can step right in and perform at a very high level. He has handled a pro-style offense, makes big plays when his team needs it and has more of a personality than Mariota does. Only problem with Winston however is his off-the-field antics that could bring too many distractions down the road.

January 1, 2015; Pasadena, CA, USA; Florida State Seminoles quarterback Jameis Winston (5) runs the ball against the Oregon Ducks in the 2015 Rose Bowl college football game at Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

The rap sheet for Winston includes many things that would definitely make most teams second-guess drafting him but his skill-set might be too good to pass up. Should the Buccaneers draft Winston, they would need to put him on the right path and keep an eye on him as he develops over the next few years.

Both athletes have incredible numbers in their college football careers but to me, I would give the nod to Mariota hands down. He might come off as too quiet or boring when it comes to how he speaks to the media but I would rather have someone who puts it all on the football field rather than someone who has a high chance of losing focus and making headlines for all the wrong reasons.

The Buccaneers need someone that can step right in and steer the franchise towards better days. Both athletes can do that but when it comes to long-term success and stability, the Buccaneers should go against what everyone has predicted and make a safer pick in Mariota. He might need a little extra time to grasp life in the NFL but I’m confident it’ll be a much better decision than taking a major risk with Winston.

Next: 2015 NFL Mock Draft: Jameis Winston is a Tennessee Titan

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