A month into NFL free agency, and quarterback Jameis Winston still finds himself on the open market.
After watching Winston throw for 5,109 yards, 33 touchdowns and 30 interceptions in 2019, Bruce Arians decided to see what was behind door number two in free agency. And, wouldn’t you know it, it was Tom Brady.
Winston has kept active on social media to show teams he is still in peak condition and ready to play. But for one reason or another, he’s yet to find a new team to call his own.
Bucky Brooks at NFL.com examined the best team fits for Winston — the New England Patriots, Pittsburgh Steelers and Dallas Cowboys — but what was interesting was what one NFC scout told him, which is that Winston’s off-the-field issues from his past may be hurting his chances of being signed.
Per the scout:
“Winston is hindered by his turnovers and previous transgressions. If you were worried about his mistakes and character during his pre-draft evaluation, you have enough evidence to move on from him at the moment. … He’s a talented player but those mistakes still hang over his head and make it hard for some teams to pull the trigger.”
Winston’s past has been well documented, and while the quarterback seems like a changed man now (for the better), those mistakes definitely give teams cause for concern.
Ultimately, Winston will likely be delegated to a backup role in 2020, though if he picks the right team that could pay dividends in the long run. Once this week’s draft is over and the new crop of quarterbacks find teams, we may have a better idea of where Winston could end up.
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