Should The Buccaneers Give Jameis Winston Another Chance?

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have consistently demonstrated a keen ability to identify promising draft talent and cultivate it into enduring NFL careers. Notably, even players who don’t remain with the Buccaneers for an extended period often go on to enjoy prolonged success elsewhere in the league. This trend serves as a testament to the talent evaluation skills of General Manager Jason Licht and his scouting staff.

Notably, one former Buccaneers first-round draft pick has not only remained in the league but has also performed well enough to position himself as a valuable free-agent target, according to Pro Football Focus (PFF).

Jameis Winston, the first overall pick in 2015, was once hailed as the future face of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. However, his career trajectory took him to the New Orleans Saints and later the Cleveland Browns. Despite the changes in scenery, Winston has continued to flash promise, particularly in glimpses throughout the 2024 season.

That was enough for PFF to write,

“The former No. 1 overall pick is likely no longer a long-term solution, but he can be a bridge signal-caller for a team developing a young quarterback or a team that is simply in a short-term bind at the position.

Winston’s 74.6 PFF overall grade in 2024 ranked 24th among 46 qualifying quarterbacks. The Florida State product has become a true gunslinger, as he paired a league-worst 5.2% turnover-worthy play rate with a 22nd-ranked 3.9% big-time throw rate. As a result, he earned a 69.9 PFF passing grade, which placed him 27th at the position. Even though Winston is not a long-term solution, he is probably still a top-32 quarterback in the NFL.”

While Winston’s name often surfaces in headlines due to his propensity for turnovers and unconventional off-field antics, his on-field abilities should not be overlooked. Winston still possesses a powerful arm, and it’s likely that some team will tap into that potential and unleash it.

The BR Rub 

Let’s start this off with, Baker Mayfield is the Buccaneers starting quarterback. This is not up for debate. With that said, the team needs a backup quarterback that’s actually had reps as a pro. Winston does fit this criteria. But would Jason Licht consider bringing Winston back as a backup? That might be a hard-pill for him to swallow.

We all know about Winston’s propensity to turn the ball over. But he has established himself as a viable backup for a few teams now. Also to consider, Winston may actually get a chance to start for a lesser team, say like the Giants. If that happens, this is all a moot point.

I guess the question for the Bucs front office and the fan base is, do you feel comfortable with Winston if Mayfield were to go down?

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