The #Bucs are slated to bring back QB Jameis Winston for 2020, sources say. But how it happens — which tag — will be fascinating. My story: https://t.co/7MXeVva4RS
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 21, 2019
NFL insider Ian Rapoport is reporting what many people have expected to hear for the past month, which is that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will bring quarterback Jameis Winston back for the 2020 season.
Winston, the former first overall pick of the Bucs back in 2015, came into the 2019 season playing on the fifth and final year of his rookie deal. The team wanted to see how Winston would perform playing for new head coach and quarterback guru Bruce Arians before committing to him beyond this season.
Arians, himself, deflected questions about Winston’s future just the other week, but given how the Bucs — and Winston in particular — have played over the past month, it’s not surprising to hear the team will bring him back for at least one more season. Last week, Winston became the first quarterback in NFL history to throw for 450 yards in back-to-back games.
But, as Rapoport reports, it remains to be seen by what mechanism Winston is brought back. He explains the possibilities of both the franchise tag and transition tag when it comes to two of Tampa Bay’s biggest free agents, Winston and Shaq Barrett.
“The franchise tag for QBs is projected to be about $27 million, while the transition tag would be $25 million. For a linebacker, the franchise tag is slated to be almost $16 million, while the transition should be almost $14 million. Barrett may also argue (as Clowney did) that he plays more defensive end and deserves a more expensive tag. Do not discount the transition tag for Winston. Both tags are an option, but the transition tag is a potentially intriguing one.”
Either way, it sounds like Winston did enough to convince the team to roll the dice on him one more time.
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