3 bold moves the Saints can still make to shake up free agency

Whether they go after Everson Griffen, Jameis Winston, or Nickell Robey-Coleman, the Saints can still make another splash in free agency.

2. Sign quarterback Jameis Winston

Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

Winston is the rare starting-quality quarterback who doesn’t have many options. While he did throw for 5,109 yards and fling 33 touchdown passes last year, Winston also turned the ball over 42 times (including 30 interceptions), by far his worst mark in the NFL. A lot of that is on him for poor decision-making ability, but turnover-worthy plays have always plagued him, and might partially be due to vision problems that he finally addressed with eye surgery.

With Tom Brady signed by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Winston’s time with the team that drafted him first-overall is over. Besides the low moments on the field, off-field immaturity has also been a frustration with him. Whether it’s bizarre stunts or ugly behavior around women, Winston’s issues are just as frustrating five years into his NFL career as they were at Florida State. The mistake-prone knucklehead hasn’t grown up.

But there’s reasons to think he can turn it around. Winston is still just 26, and deserves the same opportunities to learn from his mistakes and back up a more-accomplished starter that quarterbacks like Marcus Mariota and Ryan Tannehill have gotten. Tannehill’s case is a prime example of how a change in scenery could benefit a young passer. Winston could learn a lot after working with Drew Brees for a year or two.

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