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Did Colts really want Jameis Winston over Matt Ryan?
New Orleans Saints quarterback Jameis Winston was set to meet with Indy before he re-signed. Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

Did Colts really want Jameis Winston over Matt Ryan?

By Zac Wassink  |  Last updated 3/22/22

The NFL's quarterback carousel continued this week as the Atlanta Falcons traded one-time Most Valuable Player Matt Ryan to the Indianapolis Colts and then put pen to paper on a deal with Marcus Mariota. Meanwhile, the New Orleans Saints agreed to bring 2021 Week 1 starter Jameis Winston back on a two-year contract, a deal the Saints confirmed on Tuesday. 

It appears things could have gone differently on the first Monday of spring. 

According to Saints insider Nick Underhill, the Colts were sending a jet to welcome Winston in for a visit on Monday morning until the former No. 1 overall pick shifted his focus back to New Orleans.

Winston was a backup with the Saints who sat behind future Hall-of-Famer Drew Brees for most of the 2020 season. He won five of seven starts with New Orleans this past campaign, which ended for him when he went down with a torn ACL and damage to his MCL on Halloween. 

Saints general manager Mickey Loomis told reporters in early March he was interested in a reunion with Winston, but that was before New Orleans seemed to be a potential destination for Houston Texans star Deshaun Watson. Watson surprised many last Friday, however, when he waived his no-trade clause to join the Cleveland Browns. 

Meanwhile, the Colts' social media team has expressed happiness over the way things played out.

As for Winston, he is reportedly on track to be ready for training camp coming off his serious injury. 

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