The Saints are set to have Derek Carr atop the quarterback depth chart for at least one more campaign, but retaining Jameis Winston as his backup remains an option for this offseason. If the latter has his way, the team will take that route. 
Winston is set to reach free agency next month with the expiration of his current contract. He took a pay cut last offseason, working out a revised one-year deal to avoid being designated a post-June 1 release. That contract has since been altered significantly as part of New Orleans’ annual cap gymnastics, leaving Winston’s future in question. He recently confirmed his desire to remain with the team, though.
“I would love to stay in NOLA forever,” the former No. 1 pick said in an interview with WDSU’s Margaret Orr during a Mari Gras parade (video link). “But whatever the Lord has planned for me, I’m going to go and do my best, wherever that is. Hopefully it’s here, because I love this, I love the energy, and I love this city.”
In the wake of his revised contract, Winston publicly stated his intention of competing for another starting role in the future. Given Carr’s continued presence, Winston’s latest comments are notable since the 2024 season would involve another campaign spent as a backup. The former has his $30MM salary guaranteed in full for the coming year, but New Orleans could move on with minimal cap penalties next offseason.
Even in the event that were to take place, Winston’s prospects for assuming QB1 duties would be questionable. The 30-year-old’s last full campaign as a starter took place during the 2019 season, his final one with the Buccaneers. He served as the Saints’ starter in 2021 for seven weeks before a promising year was cut short due to an ACL tear. Since then, Andy Dalton and now Carr have leapfrogged him on the depth chart, while Swiss Army knife Taysom Hill has also seen occasional usage as a quarterback.
Winston would be one of several veteran passers on the open market if he were to see his Saints deal expire. New Orleans has a number of difficult financial decisions to make in the near future, but the backup QB spot would become a notable roster hole if the team moved on from him. Winston’s future with his current team, or a new one, will thus be worth monitoring in the build-up to the new league year.
Crab legs and interceptions
And disobeying your Coach. He deserves to be out of the League.
cry some more
Must be a Falcons fan…..
Nola is always a fun team to watch in the offseason. They really believe they are just on the cusp of competing(!)…Until the new season starts. Usually around .500 but never any deep drives in the playoffs. Atlanta has the same MO.
Let Winston walk, draft a rookie QB, expect Carr to be Carr, & trade back from 14 & 4 this draft and get picks this year and next. Another year of the coaching staffs paid off (cheaper buyouts) & start fresh w/ new FO, coaching staff, and picks in 2025 offseason. Carr can be cut next offseason. Let the expiring contracts expire now, and stay out of FA; less depth players. Try something different!
The last time the Saints tried something different, the league hammered them for issuing bounties on opponents. Perhaps a more subtle approach could work…but they should keep the paper bags handy just in case.
But they did win the SB that season as well! Yes, the ‘Aints paper bags are nostalgia, have to keep them alive and well.
The Falcons at least have upside if they can get a young quarterback.
The Saints aren’t bad, but they are what they are and I think they should tear it down and reset their cap situation. I just don’t see the upside for more than 8-9 wins with them.
I agree. Not knowing draft calculations, I would trade their 2nd rounder for Fields and then trade back form 8 and build a good young nucleus. Maybe Fields doesn’t pan out, but he’ll be cheap and they should have plenty of capital to move up next draft.
Arty, you nailed it. But, they won’t. The Saints, their fans, the city, and area have had a taste of the “good life” after so many years of paperbags, and just being “Saint Archie ” and a cast of no-names. So, they’ll continue to try and be around .500 and hope for a few breaks. I will add that they ABSOLUTELY have to hit on their draft picks this year and next. Voodoo cap economics will only last so long.
They have Jake Haener
The most Atlanta Falcons thing ever would be to get burned by Cousins and Wilson in free agency, leveraged by the Bears to get a better deal for Fields elsewhere, miss out on the top 3 qb’s in the draft, and have to sign Jameis to play QB next season.