Tag: Jameis Winston

Chris Olave may be going back to his college jersey number

With the loss of Jameis Winston to the Cleveland Browns, Chris Olave has floated the thought of changing back to his jersey number:

The offseason is in full swing, and with that, the New Orleans Saints are reportedly going to be losing Jameis Winston to the Cleveland Browns. It’s an opportunity for wide receiver Chriis Olave to return to his old college jersey number.

In his first two seasons at Ohio State, Olave wore No. 17 as his teammate J.K. Dobbins was using  No. 2; however, Olave would snap it up in his junior and senior years. Then he had to move on to No. 12 in the NFL with Jameis Winston having already claimed it. However, with Winston reportedly gone, that frees up Olave to return to his preferred number.

Olave responded to Alontae Taylor, who wears No. 1, on Twitter when Taylor asked if he wanted to rep the “1 & 2 combo” and his brother Josh Olave would also send out a post about the potential number change:

If this number change were to go into effect, Olave would be the first wide receiver to wear it for the Saints. There have only been six others to wear No. 2 for New Orleans, all of whom were kickers or quarterbacks:

  • K Chip Lohmiller: 1995
  • QB Aaron Brooks: 2000-2005
  • K Olindo Mare: 2007
  • K John Kasay: 2011
  • K Zach Hocker: 2015
  • QB Jameis Winston: 2020-2023

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Browns agree to terms with backup QB Jameis Winston

A new backup in Cleveland has arrived

Day two of NFL free agency has kicked off for the Cleveland Browns as they agree to terms with quarterback Jameis Winston as the team’s new backup behind Deshaun Watson. The deal is for one year and could be up to $8.7 million, as Bleacher Report’s Jordan Schultz first reported.

It was initially reported the Browns wanted to sign either Jacoby Brissett or Joe Flacco. After Brissett reunited with Alex Van Pelt in New England, the team pivoted to Winston. Winston isn’t coming to town to be the starter, but he has a ton of experience and some success.

Over Winston’s career, he has completed 61.2 percent of his passes for a total of 22,104 yards with 141 touchdowns and 99 interceptions. He has always been a big risk-taker with a rocket of an arm; he can make all of the throws, but sometimes, he trusts his arm a little too much. In the en,d he is one of the better backup options the Browns could have added this year.

Report: Browns closing in on deal with Jameis Winston

Bleacher Report’s Jordan Schultz says the Cleveland Browns are closing in on a deal with Jameis Winston:

Jameis Winston is closing in on a free agent contract with the Cleveland Browns, per Bleacher Report’s Jordan Schultz, which would shut the door on his time with the New Orleans Saints. Winston had previously said he hoped to find a team where he could compete for a starting job, but instead he’ll be backing up Deshaun Watson if this deal goes through.

It makes sense when you look at the money: a maximum value of $8.7 million, Schultz says, which is more than twice what Winston received from the Saints last year. Fine money for a backup, and he had his choice of options after other teams expressed interest in his services.

And this might be a better opportunity than it first appears. Watson missed most of the 2023 season recovering from an injured throwing shoulder, and if durability continues to be a problem for him then Winston could get on the field for Cleveland in 2024.

Of course we aren’t crossing the finish line just yet. Deals may be agreed to right now but they can’t be signed until after Wednesday’s 3 p.m. CT deadline. The Jacksonville Jaguars learned that the hard way when former Saints kicker Wil Lutz backed out of an agreement to stay with the Denver Broncos. But it sure looks like Winston will be out of New Orleans very soon.

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Report: Giants had interest in QB Jameis Winston

The Giants reportedly had interest in Jameis Winston before he agreed to terms with the Browns.

The New York Giants haven’t had much luck with quarterbacks since the departure of Eli Manning.

Daniel Jones was supposed to be the next guy, but multiple head coaching and front office changes have negatively impacted his career. Injuries suffered behind a shoddy offensive line haven’t helped, either, and last season was a prime example of that.

In fact, last season showed the Giants the importance of having a solid backup in place for Jones. Tyrod Taylor and Tommy DeVito unfortunately succumbed to that same offensive line and the Giants were forced to scramble. So, really, until the offensive line is fixed, it doesn’t matter who lines up under center.

The Giants are still in search of a backup, though, and Jameis Winston was on the team’s radar before he ultimately agreed to terms with the Cleveland Browns, according to CBS Sports’ Josina Anderson.

Winston spent his first five seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but was ultimately not re-signed. He spent the last four seasons with the New Orleans Saints as a backup and has not played a full season of games since leaving the Bucs.

Highly touted out of college, Winston has never lived up to the hype around him. Now, he gets another shot at a backup job behind Browns signal-caller, Deshaun Watson, which also means Joe Flacco is available, assuming he plans on playing in 2024.

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Two more teams emerge as suitors for Jameis Winston

Two more teams emerged as suitors for Jameis Winston. He isn’t lacking for options as free agency takes shape:

Jameis Winston isn’t lacking for options outside the New Orleans Saints. CBS Sports’ Josina Anderson repots that the Tennessee Titans and New York Giants are “among new teams that’ve shown preliminary interest” in Winston, along with the previously-reported Cleveland Browns.

Winston has said he intends to search for a team where he can compete to start, and the Titans look like the best fit — the only person standing in his way is second-year quarterback Will Levis, who wasn’t drafted by the new Tennessee coaching staff. Levis started nine games as a rookie, completing 58.4% of his passes, scoring 8 touchdown passes, and throwing 4 interceptions while being sacked 28 times with 7 fumbles. The Titans went 3-6 before overhauling their coaching staff.

Compare that to the other two situations, where the Browns and Giants must start Deshaun Watson and Daniel Jones after paying them so highly. At the same time, both of those quarterbacks missed extensive time with injuries last season, so these could be better opportunities for Winston to get on the field than they first appear. We’ll see where he ends up, but it’s looking like he won’t necessarily have to stay with the Saints in 2024.

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Titans showing ‘preliminary interest’ in QB Jameis Winston

The Titans are reportedly showing interest in QB Jameis Winston.

UPDATE: Well, so much for this. Jameis Winston has agreed to terms with the Cleveland Browns, according to Bleacher Report’s Jordan Schultz.

Tennessee Titans general manager Ran Carthon said during the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine that the team would be adding a third quarterback this offseason to compete with Malik Willis for the backup job.

One potential target for the Titans is reportedly former New Orleans Saints signal-caller, Jameis Winston, who the team has shown “preliminary interest” in, according to CBS Sports’ Josina Anderson.

Not only is Winston a solid locker room guy, he’s also capable of keeping a team afloat if the starting quarterback is forced to miss multiple weeks.

Of course, you have to live with Winston’s gunslinger mentality, which can lead to turnovers, but he’s one of the better backup quarterback options out there currently now that guys like Gardner Minshew, Jacoby Brissett and Tyrod Taylor are all reportedly off the board.

There’s nothing I would love to see more than Winston eating some “W’s” in the two-tone blue. Sign me up for this one.

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NFL Rumor: Browns have interest in Jameis Winston as backup quarterback

Could the Browns add another former first overall pick to their roster?

The NFL rumors have been hot about what the Cleveland Browns will do at the backup quarterback position, and now another name has entered the chat as former first overall pick Jameis Winston is apparently on their radar.

There have been rumors of Justin Fields as a target, rumors of the return of Joe Flacco or Jacoby Brissett (who just agreed to terms on a one-year deal with the New England Patriots), and some think they may stick it out with Dorian Thompson-Robinson. Now, after four seasons with the New Orleans Saints, Winston has been linked to Cleveland.

However, after starting five quarterbacks a year ago, it is evident some further precautions need to be taken. Bringing back Flacco is still the leader in the clubhouse, but Winston would bring a younger gunslinger (who oddly has some of the same tendencies as Flacco) to the room.

It will be interesting to see how the Browns attack the backup quarterback market.

Saints free agency rumors: Browns interested in signing Jameis Winston

The Boston Globe’s Ben Volin reports the Browns are interested in signing Jameis Winston as a backup quarterback, not a starter:

It’s too early to say that a market is developing for his services, but at least one team is seriously considering Jameis Winston as free agency takes shape: the Cleveland Browns, per the Boston Globe’s senior NFL reporter Ben Volin.

There’s just one thing. Volin reports that the Browns view Winston as a backup for starting quarterback Deshaun Watson, but Winston has been vocal about his desire to start games for a team, which he knows isn’t going to happen with Derek Carr entrenched on the New Orleans Saints.

Watson has strong job security in Cleveland, too, so if the only offers out there are backup gigs then it shouldn’t surprise anyone if Winston stays in New Orleans. Still, Watson missed most of the season with an injured throwing shoulder, and Winston could see this as an opportunity to get on the field if he misses more time.

So it’s something to watch for in the days ahead. Because of the way Winston’s contract is constructed, the Saints will need to release him with a post-June 1 designation if he’s going to leave and join another team, just like with Michael Thomas. If he intends to stay in New Orleans they’ll need to tear up his current deal and write a new contract. There are many moving parts this time of the year so expect more development in the days ahead.

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Available free agent quarterbacks for the Broncos

How will the Broncos replace Russell Wilson in 2024? Here are some free agent quarterbacks the team could consider.

After releasing Russell Wilson, the Denver Broncos need to find a new starting quarterback this spring.

Assuming coach Sean Payton doesn’t plan to start Jarrett Stidham in Week 1, the Broncos will be looking to the free agent market for a potential QB1 this week. Options will include Kirk Cousins (but that would be difficult), Jameis Winston (who had success with Payton in the past) and Sam Darnold (who might be a realistic option).

Jimmy Garoppolo is not listed below because he’s technically not a free agent yet, but if the Las Vegas Raiders release him as expected, Jimmy G will be a name to watch as well.

So with the NFL’s free agency negotiating window set to open later today, here’s a quick list of 15 veteran free agent quarterbacks to keep an eye on. Note that Wilson makes the cut as a notable FA QB, but he won’t be returning to Denver. (Update: Wilson is signing with the Steelers.)

Projected market value for Saints’ top pending free agents

Here’s a quick look at projected market value for some of the New Orleans Saints’ top pending free agents, including complicated cases like Michael Thomas and Jameis Winston:

We’re just a few weeks away from the start of free agency, and the New Orleans Saints have a couple of players who could hit the open market — including several starters and some ascending backups hoping for larger roles in 2024.

But could the Saints get priced out of their services? Different outlets have projected market values for some of New Orleans’ pending free agents, so let’s take a look at the numbers from Pro Football Focus, Spotrac, and Over The Cap: