The last two seasons have been rough for quarterback Jameis Winston. After sitting on the bench one season behind Drew Brees with the New Orleans Saints, he was given the chance to become the starter in 2021.
Things were going very well for him. New Orleans got off to a 5-2 start and were in control of the NFC South. Jameis Winston had completed only 59 percent of his passes, but he made major strides in the ball security department, which was his biggest weakness during his tenure with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
In his final season with the Buccaneers, Jameis Winston threw 30 interceptions. Through seven games in 2021, he had only three as the coaching of Sean Payton and being in the Saints system was paying dividends. Unfortunately, his career hit another snag at that point.
While playing against his former team, he injured his knee and was knocked out for the remainder of the season. He worked tirelessly to get back on the field for the 2022 season but was injured again and it impacted his performance.
Through three games, Jameis Winston completed 63.5 percent of his passes for 858 yards and four touchdowns, but he threw five interceptions in the last two games. Because of his injury, he was removed from the lineup in favor of Andy Dalton but was never given the chance to start again even when healthy.
Set to hit free agency this offseason, the options for Jameis Winston could be limited. He is still only 29 years old, so there is certainly a chance he can produce at a high level for years to come; he just needs that opportunity.
One team that could provide him with that opportunity is the Indianapolis Colts. The Colts are seriously looking into adding a quarterback with the No. 4 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, but whoever they pick could benefit from sitting on the bench and learning for one season.
That could give Jameis Winston a season to get his career back on track and rebuild his value. Even if it is for just one season, just having the opportunity to start games is something that he should jump at.
His big arm is something that Indianapolis could use as they want to get their vertical offense back after being held back by the underwhelming play of Matt Ryan in 2023. If Jameis Winston can keep his turnovers in check, he would prove to be a big upgrade for the Colts in 2023 and set himself up for a nice payday in 2024.
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