Jameis Winston auditioning to be Drew Brees’ successor for Saints

Jameis Winston is the first free-agent domino to fall after the draft, landing with the Saints and having a chance to prove himself a worthy successor.

Playing out the fifth year of his rookie contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, quarterback Jameis Winston had his best opportunity yet to realize his potential as a former No. 1 overall pick. With head coach Bruce Arians taking over and elite weapons around him, it was time for him to shine. Instead, he completed the first 30-touchdown, 30-interception season in NFL history.

As we all know now, the Bucs elected to move on from Winston and have since signed Tom Brady. But the question remained where Winston would land. One day removed from the 2020 NFL Draft, we now have that answer.

On Sunday, NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport reported that the New Orleans Saints, who are quite familiar with Winston playing in the NFC South, are set to ink Winston to a one-year deal. While not official, the expectation is that Jameis Winston is headed to the Big Easy.

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The Saints have re-signed gadget quarterback Taysom Hill as well, which gives them three quarterbacks, just as they had last year with Drew Brees as the starter with Teddy Bridgewater. For what it’s worth, Bridgewater also remained in the NFC South by signing a three-year deal with the Carolina Panthers.

Talent has never been in question with Winston. He has the arm to make every throw on the field and, at times, looks like a superstar. But it’s been consistent inconsistency and poor decision-making that have caused Winston to end up on the move from the team that drafted him first overall.

However, Jameis Winston landing with the Saints could not be more intriguing. As Brees is clearly planning for a soon-coming retirement, having already signed a media deal with NBC to join Sunday Night Football upon the end of his playing career, New Orleans needs a successor at quarterback. And as much as head coach Sean Payton love Hill, that’s not the answer.

So now Winston will have a chance to audition for the chance to be that guy. And as he comes to the Saints, he’ll have several things that he’s lacked throughout his carer to this point.

For one, the mentorship of Brees is something that Winston never got in Tampa Bay. As the first overall pick, Winston was thrust into the starting job immediately for the Bucs and asked to learn on the fly. With problems as a decision-maker, that’s not exactly a situation conducive to his development and long-term success.

Beyond that, the Saints also offer an overall infrastructure and culture that hasn’t been there with Tampa Bay. Yes, the Bucs have won a Super Bowl in franchise history. But the sustained success that New Orleans’ has enjoyed is a construct of the front office and coaching staff and what they have instituted within the organization. It’s also something that definitively wasn’t there in Tampa.

Of course, outside of the preseason (assuming that takes place), Winston may not get much of an opportunity to prove himself barring Brees suffering an injury for the second straight year. Then again, maybe he shows enough in practice to convince Payton and the Saints he can be the heir to Brees’ throne.

In any case, this is a wise move for the New Orleans Saints. They have a highly talented backup for Brees as insurance while also having a player who, at the very least, could prove himself worthy of taking up the mantle whenever Brees retires. How it plays out for Jameis Winston in New Orleans should be truly fascinating to watch.