When the Saints signed Derek Carr earlier this week, it pointed to the highest-paid passer on last year’s team being moved off the roster. But Jameis Winston is not finished in New Orleans yet.
The team gave Winston the option of staying on a reworked contract, Dianna Russini of ESPN.com tweets. The demoted quarterback has until Wednesday — the start of the 2023 league year — to accept the team’s revised proposal or be cut.
It is likely the Saints offered a pay cut, with Winston set to make $12.8MM in base salary. The Saints would save $4.4MM by releasing Winston but could create $12.8MM in space by designating him as a post-June 1 cut. Though, the latter move would not create those savings until that June date.
Winston is under contract through 2023, via the two-year, $28MM deal he signed in 2022. But the former No. 1 overall pick will not have a chance to compete for a starting job in New Orleans. Winston was upset he lost his starting job to Andy Dalton after an injury, Katherine Terrell of ESPN.com tweets. Dalton started the final 14 Saints games. Winston opened the season as the team’s starter, but ankle and back issues re-routed his path in Louisiana.
Accepting the Saints’ offer would signal Winston does not believe he would do better on the open market. Were Winston to pass and be released, he would be hitting free agency after a disappointing season and join a crowded market of bridge-type starters. Dalton also stands to be part of that contingent, which includes the likes of Jacoby Brissett, Teddy Bridgewater, Carson Wentz, Marcus Mariota, Baker Mayfield, Sam Darnold, Mike White and Gardner Minshew. It would not appear Winston would be especially successful in free agency, given this collection of passers being available at likely low rates.
Winston, 29, was struggling at the season’s outset and suffered a torn ACL in 2021. Knee pain lingered into the 2022 season, Winston said recently. The former Buccaneers starter did begin the 2021 season with a 14-3 touchdown pass-to-interception ratio, doing so on a team with one of the worst receiving groups in the league. Sean Payton departed after the 2021 season, however, changing the equation in New Orleans.
Teams stand to be interested in Winston (80 career starts) as a backup or as a bridge starter. The Broncos could be one of them, as Payton inherited Russell Wilson following a stunningly mediocre season. Winston serving as a backup/insurance against Wilson not returning to form in Denver would make sense. It should not be assumed Winston will be back with the Saints. The answer will be known soon.
Accepting the Saints offer would probably be the best move for him right now. It’s not a given that he’d get a better deal elsewhere.
Take the money when you can!
I still think he’d make the most sense as insurance and competition in either Washington or Denver. Winston had three interceptions in 173 attempts under Payton, which is amazing for him.
Ask for release, plenty QB spot open elsewhere..
Winston should head for free agency. There’s plenty of opportunities elsewhere. Not necessarily to be to be week 1 starter, but he’d have a chance to be a bridge or at least compete for a starting spot. Washington, Vegas, Indy, Denver, Houston, Carolina, Miami, Los Angeles, etc.
If Winston was angry with being benched there is no way he’ll stick around. He should go to a team struggling to make a starter out of one of their more recent draft picks (SF/Atlanta/Chicago) as he’ll likely get some starts when they don’t pan out.