Jameis Winston could have Ryan Tannehill kind of turnaround

Jameis Winston is returning to the Saints on a one-year deal. Could he pull a page out of Ryan Tannehill’s playbook and benefit from the 2021 season? 

After not panning out for the Dolphins, former first-round pick Ryan Tannehill was traded to the Titans where it looked like he’d be spending the season as a backup. After Marcus Mariota failed to get the job done, however, Tannehill was named the new starting quarterback and led the Titans to the AFC Championship Game.

While the Titans’ offense was mostly explosive because of Derrick Henry, Tannehill was no slouch. He threw for 2,742 yards, 22 touchdowns, and just six interceptions in his 12 appearances in the regular season and while Henry got the glory, Tannehill helped make it happen.

He was rewarded with a massive contract extension, keeping him as the Titans’ quarterback through 2022. Tannehill threw 33 touchdowns and seven picks in 2020 and helped get the Titans a division title and back into the playoffs. A change of scenery did him well and that’s what Jameis Winston is hoping for, as he re-signed with the Saints and hopes to be their starter in 2021.

Can Jameis Winston revive his career with the Saints in the same way Ryan Tannehill did with the Titans?

Drew Brees is no more in New Orleans, so it’ll be either Winston or Taysom Hill leading the offense in 2021. Winston has more to offer, but Sean Payton went with Hill over Winston during Brees’ absence last season. Winston, however, has shown he can air out the pigskin, throwing for 5,109 yards and 33 touchdowns in 2019 — his last season as a starter.

The downside to that season were Winston’s 30 interceptions, which was a blemish on what otherwise was an impressive season. That’s the biggest thing holding Winston back, but if he is able to beat Hill out for the starting job, he’ll have talent surrounding him in New Orleans.

Michael Thomas should be back and healthy, Alvin Kamara is as good as ever, and the Saints are likely going to draft a few position players, especially after releasing Emmanuel Sanders prior to free agency beginning. This will give Winston the tools to succeed and he — like Ryan Tannehill — can prove that sometimes a change of scenery was all that was needed.

The big question for Winston is — Can he beat out Hill for the starting job?