Extra Points: Winston, Buccaneers, Saints, Yelder, Browner

With the news of Jameis Winston‘s impending suspension from the NFL, lots has been written about Winston’s future with the Buccaneers. One potentially unexplored angle is how Winston’s fate may tie into the fate of Bucs GM Jason Licht and the team’s head coach Dirk Koetter, according to Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com. Florio speculates that the team may be more likely to move on from Winston if they decide to fire Licht and/or Koetter at the end of the 2018 season.

Koetter reportedly came very close to being fired at the end of the 2017 season, but was ultimately given another year by ownership. Florio thinks it would be easier for the franchise to move on from Winston if they cleaned house completely, and had a front office with no ties to Winston make the decision to release him. Winston is set to make $20.9MM under his fifth-year option in 2019. It’s guaranteed only for injury, meaning the Bucs could release him after this season and not have to pay him anything, assuming he stays healthy. Whatever ends up happening, it looks like it could be a tumultuous year in Tampa Bay.

Here’s more from around the league:

• Undrafted rookie tight end Deon Yelder has a “good shot” at making the Saints, according to Nick Underhill of the New Orleans Advocate. Due to the Saints’ lack of depth at tight end, Underhill thinks the position “appears primed for a UDFA to rise and claim a job.” The Saints recently released Coby Fleener, leaving them a bit thin at the position.
• Former Pro Bowl cornerback Brandon Browner pled no contest to domestic battery charges, according to Nathan Fenno of the Los Angeles Times. Browner, who won back to back Super Bowls with the Patriots and Seahawks, spent 2017 out of the league after a short sting with Seattle in 2016.
• In case you missed it, despite Winston’s expected absence, the Bucs don’t have any plans to bring in a veteran quarterback.