Jameis Winston

Latest On Giants’ QB Situation; Team Convinced Path To Cam Ward Is Closed?

April 2nd, 2025 at 10:04pm CST by Sam Robinson

Assembling an interesting quarterback room by signing Russell Wilson less than a week after bringing in Jameis Winston, the Giants have protected themselves — to a degree — ahead of a draft that would have otherwise featured a glaring need for the team. From a long-term perspective, however, that need remains going into the draft.

The Giants face the prospect of needing a young quarterback in a draft that could see its top two options — neither of which drawing prospect evaluations comparable to the 2024 class’ top arms — gone by the time the team goes on the clock at No. 3 overall. The Giants are “convinced” they will be unable to trade up for Cam Ward, Fox Sports’ Ralph Vacchiano notes, while some internal concerns appear to exist regarding Shedeur Sanders‘ availability.

Ward-Titans ties have strengthened in recent weeks, pointing the Miami prospect to Tennessee at No. 1. The Browns have been closely linked to Abdul Carter at No. 2, keeping the door open for a Giants-Sanders partnership. But Vacchiano adds the Giants “seem convinced” the Browns will take Sanders at 2. Although some around the league are not certain the Giants would even draft the two-year Colorado QB at 3, the team not having the option would create a situation where Wilson does not face a significant challenge for first-string work this season.

Rumblings about Giants interest in moving up to No. 1 surfaced around the Combine, a year after Joe Schoen began an effort to see what it would take to trade from No. 6 to No. 3 — an effort centered around Drake Maye. The Patriots passed on a strong offer, drafting Maye for themselves, and the Giants then punted on Michael Penix, J.J. McCarthy and Bo Nix. A year later, Schoen and Brian Daboll are clinging to their jobs. Decision-makers on hot seats — after three years tied to Daniel Jones — have a chance to take a quarterback, but this has long represented a shaky draft to need one. Even Ward has been mentioned as carrying value south of last year’s first-round sextet, and Vacchiano adds Ward might have been the only one of this year’s options who would have been a top-five QB in the 2024 class.

That may reflect Ward’s rising value, but the Giants are in a difficult spot. Sanders is drawing some second-round grades from teams, ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler tweets, though that is not a universally held opinion regarding last year’s Division I-FBS completion percentage leader. Still, Sanders has seen significant questions emerge about his landing spot. Though, the second-generation NFL prospect is viewed as unlikely to fall out of the top 10.

For now, the Giants have Wilson set to assume the controls. Wilson received tremendous input into the Broncos’ 2022 offense, a doomed effort overseen by one-and-done HC Nathaniel Hackett, and drew the ire of Sean Payton on a few occasions in 2023. Wilson then clashed with Arthur Smith in Pittsburgh, though the veteran QB was still interested in a second Steelers contract before committing to the Giants on a one-year, $10.5MM deal. Daboll will now attempt to coach the potential Hall of Famer; the fourth-year Giants HC said (via the New York Post’s Ryan Dunleavy) he watched more than 7,500 Wilson plays to determine if the two could work together.

“He makes good decisions with the football,” Daboll said of Wilson, via The Athletic’s Dan Duggan. “He’s athletic. He’s a little bit older, so maybe not as athletic as ’13, ’14, but certainly has the ability to use his legs, extend plays, create explosive plays, phenomenal deep ball thrower.”

It does sound like Daboll will tweak his offense for Wilson, who received an offer during his mid-March visit, Schoen said (via the Post’s Paul Schwartz). It took 12 more days for the Giants to sign him, as they continued to wait on Aaron Rodgers. Although performance and playing-time incentives can vault the contract value to $21MM, Duggan adds Wilson checks in at barely $11MM on New York’s cap sheet due to the incentives being classified as not likely to be earned.

As could be expected, Schoen said (via NFL.com) the Giants will not rule out drafting a QB at 3. A report that surfaced just before their Wilson signing did indicate an openness to going elsewhere at 3 and circling back to quarterback later. While passing on Sanders would invite significant risk, the Giants would have other options in Jaxson Dart, Quinn Ewers, Tyler Shough, Jalen Milroe or Syracuse product Kyle McCord. Dart, however, would likely require the Giants to trade back into Round 1 from their No. 34 spot.

Regardless of the Giants’ plan, Schoen and Daboll will likely enter the season at risk of being fired before year’s end. If they cannot land Sanders — a player some around the league believe the team wants — the power brokers’ fates will largely rest on Wilson, who will turn 37 in November.

If the Giants do end up with Carter or Travis Hunter at 3, internal fears about the next regime reaping the benefits will surely affect this decision, calling into question John Mara‘s decision to stay with Schoen and Daboll after a 3-14 season. Then again, the Giants’ Dave Gettleman regime helped out Schoen’s by acquiring a 2022 first-round pick to move down (in the Justin Fields trade process) in 2021.

Winston is signed for two seasons, but his status could become murky if Sanders arrives. The Giants still guaranteed some of Winston’s 2026 salary; the 11th-year vet’s two-year, $8MM deal calls for a $5.25MM guarantee at signing, Duggan tweets. Elsewhere on the roster, Duggan adds the Greg Van Roten deal is worth $3.8MM ($2.45MM guaranteed at signing). Linebacker Chris Board signed a two-year, $5.7MM deal that features $3.55MM at signing, per Duggan.

Russell Wilson Expects To Be Giants’ Starting QB

March 31st, 2025 at 10:45am CST by Nikhil Mehta

MARCH 31: To little surprise, Giants general manager Joe Schoen confirmed at the league meetings on Monday (via Dunleavy’s colleague Paul Schwartz) Wilson will operate as the team’s starter when offseason workouts begin in the near future. It remains to be seen if the upcoming draft will include the addition of a rookie under center, but Wilson will receive the first opportunity to lock down the QB1 gig in New York.

MARCH 26: Russell Wilson signed in New York planning to take over as the Giants’ starting quarterback. His contract, as well as the team’s other moves this offseason, tell a different story.

“I expect to be the starter,” said Wilson at his introductory press conference (via Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post). “I think this team is looking for someone to lead them in every way.”

Was Wilson promised the first crack at the starting job, or was he declaring his intention to earn it?

His one-year contract with a base value of $10.5MM suggests the latter. That would be the lowest salary of any starting quarterback not on their rookie contract. Justin Fields is expected to start for the Jets at a $20M APY, and Daniel Jones signed with the Colts for $14MM to compete with Anthony Richardson for the starting gig.

Wilson’s deal also includes another $10.5MM of incentives, $7.5MM of which are “based on a variety of play-time, performance, and playoff incentives,” according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. The remaining $3MM can be earned on a per-game basis if Wilson plays more than 50% of the team’s offensive snaps and the Giants win.

In other words, Wilson’s contract will only reach starter-level money if he starts and succeeds. Staying at his base value would make him an expensive backup, but that would mean the Giants have a much cheaper starter in Winston or a rookie.

Winston’s deal is worth $8MM over two years with another $8MM available via incentives with triggers that have yet to be reported. Given Wilson’s incentive structure, it will be impossible for both quarterbacks to reach the maximum values of their deals.

The veterans’ earning potential could also be threatened by a rookie quarterback, should the Giants choose to go that route in the draft. Wilson has frequently been tagged as a potential mentor for a rookie, but he doesn’t see his role in the same light, per The Athletic’s Dan Duggan. He’s in New York to win football games.

“If we draft a quarterback, we’ll make sure he does everything he can to be ready to go,” said Wilson (via Pat Leonard of the New York Daily News). “But for me it’s about the process of winning. I’m focused on winning as the QB of the Giants to help us win.”

Jameis Winston Signing Won’t Preclude Giants From Additional QB Moves

March 22nd, 2025 at 8:49am CST by Ben Levine

The Giants finally added a quarterback yesterday when they agreed to terms with Jameis Winston. While the veteran acquisition would seem to represent a bridge option for the organization, the signing may not preclude the Giants from making additional big-name moves at the position.

According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the addition of Winston wouldn’t prevent the Giants from still adding a quarterback like Aaron Rodgers or Russell Wilson. In fact, even if the Giants do add another veteran to their QBs room, the team would still be expected to add a rookie signal caller with the third-overall pick.

This is similar to what we heard last week. As the Rodgers saga continued, there was a report that the Giants may pull the trigger on a free agent acquisition sooner than later. The team reportedly had an eye on Mason Rudolph, but after striking out on that pursuit, they landed a free agent with even more starting experience.

Winston’s two-year, $8MM agreement with the Giants is certainly in line (or even below) the going rate for backup quarterbacks. With 87 games of starting experience (including seven starts with the Browns in 2024), it was initially assumed that Winston would keep the seat warm for the No. 3 pick. Instead, a rookie acquisition could be redshirted for the 2025 campaign, and Winston could serve as a traditional QB2 to another free agent target.

As Rodgers took a long meeting with the Steelers yesterday, it’s seeming increasingly likely that the Giants’ chances are dwindling in that sweepstakes. Still, there remains a connection between New York and Wilson. Fowler says the veteran QB still views the Giants as a “viable option,” and considering opportunities are starting to dry up around the NFL, Wilson may have to ultimately take what he can get.

With Winston joining Tommy DeVito on the roster, there’s now less urgency for the Giants to make a splash at the position, especially if they intend to use the third-overall pick on a quarterback. However, Winston’s signing does provide the organization with a bit more flexibility, and there’s a good chance the front office isn’t finished reshaping their QBs room.

Giants To Sign QB Jameis Winston

March 21st, 2025 at 11:44pm CST by Ely Allen

The Giants have secured a quarterback option for the 2025 NFL season. According to Jordan Schultz of FOX Sports, the team is finalizing a deal with veteran quarterback Jameis Winston. The contract is for two years and $8MM, though it could be worth up to $16MM with incentives.

Ever since New York waived long-time quarterback Daniel Jones midseason, it’s been clear that their quarterback future was up in the air. The team finished out the season with Drew Lock and Tommy DeVito behind center, going 1-6 down the stretch with their backups. With Lock’s contract expiring, DeVito was the only passer remaining on the roster, limiting the Giants options moving forward.

Coming into the offseason, the two options were clear: acquire a veteran quarterback via trade or free agency or use the No. 3 overall pick to select a quarterback for the future. New York threw their name in the Aaron Rodgers sweepstakes, but while they’ve waited for his decision, the Giants have hosted the likes of Russell Wilson, Joe Flacco, and Winston. While it seems that signing Winston should take them out of the running for Rodgers, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network posits that Winston’s presence just gives them a few more options.

The former No. 1 overall pick from the 2015 NFL Draft has slowly seen a demotion in his NFL career, going from a full-time starter in Tampa Bay to part-time starting roles in New Orleans and Cleveland. During a five-year stint to start his career with the Buccaneers, Winston had started most every game that he was available, aside from a short period in 2018 as he served a suspension for allegedly groping a female Uber driver and had to win his job back from Ryan Fitzpatrick.

In 2020, he signed with the Saints as a backup to Drew Brees but took over the starting job the next year, before suffering a season-ending ACL tear. The following two years saw him serve in New Orleans as a backup to Andy Dalton and Derek Carr. This past season, he signed on with the Browns to serve as a backup to Deshaun Watson, ultimately finding himself in the starting lineup once again when Watson was ruled out for the season with an Achilles tendon tear. Winston expressed interest in returning to Cleveland while staying open to conversations for backup jobs with the 49ers and Chargers.

Winston provides the Giants with an upgraded backup over DeVito with the potential to start and win some games if needed. Last year, what Winston did with the Browns was the perfect example of what Winston offers to the roster, basically ensuring that, even if the Giants miss out on Rodgers, Wilson, or their preferred draft pick, New York will have a player who can start throughout the season, if necessary.

While Winston could easily serve as a dependable backup behind Rodgers or Wilson, Winston sets up better as a potential bridge quarterback for a team drafting a rookie, much like we saw with Sam Darnold in Minnesota last year. Whether New York moves up to draft a passer or allows a prospect to fall to them at No. 3 overall, Winston could serve as a starter until the rookie is ready to take over, allowing the Giants to not rush their quarterback of the future onto the field before he’s ready.

Whatever their future plans, signing Winston certainly provides the Giants with more options. Whether they still aim to bring in a veteran like Rodgers or Wilson or a rookie like Cam Ward or Shedeur Sanders, rostering Winston gives them plenty of flexibility in exacting their plans for the future.

Mutual Interest Between Browns, Carson Wentz; Joe Flacco Still On Radar

March 19th, 2025 at 10:52pm CST by Sam Robinson

Passing on Carson Wentz nine years ago eventually led the Browns to Baker Mayfield. With Mayfield long gone and the player brought in to replace him — Deshaun Watson — on an albatross contract and potentially out for the season, the Browns are still shopping for a veteran.

Kenny Pickett is on Cleveland’s roster, but the team almost definitely needs another option to sell to its fanbase as a Week 1 starter. Although squarely on the radar to draft a passer at No. 2 overall, the Browns hosted Russell Wilson. Giving Wilson another chance to start remains on the Browns’ radar, as they are part of this Aaron Rodgers domino arrangement. The Browns, however, do not appear to be interested in Rodgers.

The second domino to fall once Rodgers makes his decision — potentially between retirement, the Steelers or the Giants, should the Vikings indeed pass — Wilson appears the Browns’ preference. But the Giants and Steelers are also hovering for the former Pro Bowler. If Wilson passes on the Browns, cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot reports Carson Wentz would become a realistic option. Mutual interest “definitely” exists between the former No. 2 overall pick and the Browns.

Wentz, 32, is obviously far removed from the prospect he was coming out of North Dakota State and has slipped well off the pace from his outlier 2017 season — one that likely would have secured him an MVP had he stayed healthy. The 2024 Chiefs backup was last seen taking the snaps in a 38-0 Kansas City loss to a Denver team playing starters most of the way. But Wentz has plenty of starter experience. He could be a bridge option for the Browns, though this setup would seemingly ramp up the pressure for Cleveland to select a quarterback early in the draft.

As of Sunday, the Browns had not necessarily submitted Wilson an offer, Cabot adds (subscription required). It still appears fairly clear Wilson would be Cleveland’s choice over Wentz, who has not been viewed as a starter since the Commanders benched him late in the 2022 season. Wentz made Week 18 starts with the Rams and Chiefs over the past two years, but he has 94 under his belt as a pro. Certainly not a particularly exciting option at this stage of his career, Wentz looms as an option to join Pickett if Wilson opts for New York or Pittsburgh.

Wentz may not be the next choice for the Browns, however, with Cabot indicating during an appearance on 92.3 The Fan’s Baskin & Phelps (audio link) that a Joe Flacco return remains an option. We heard over the weekend Flacco was back in play with the Browns, who did not submit him an offer to stay — as they made a last-ditch attempt to salvage the Watson sunk cost — last year. Even at 40, Flacco is still drawing interest and appears likely to land a chair as teams scramble for stopgaps.

A plan in which Pickett is the only veteran starter option for the Browns does not appear in play, Cabot adds, though she cautious that money is an object. The Browns have $10MM-plus in cap space, but they obviously still would need to carve out almost that much for their draft class. Kirk Cousins had loomed as an option, but the Falcons are holding onto him as a trade asset.

Cousins, who played for Kevin Stefanski in Minnesota, saw $10MM of his 2026 salary become guaranteed Sunday. But that is subject to offset, meaning the Falcons will hope to bill another team in the event of a trade. The Browns are not in a good position to be taking on that kind of money, as Watson’s guarantees run through 2026. An unfathomable dead money number, thanks to a fourth Watson restructure, would come into play if the Browns cut the wildly disappointing QB next year.

The Giants or Steelers could potentially price Wilson out of Cleveland, especially if a bidding war commences should Rodgers retire. Flacco and Wentz would come cheaper. Ditto Jameis Winston, though Cabot views a Winston return as unlikely. Benched as the Browns careened toward the No. 2 overall pick, Winston left his Giants visit without a deal.

Giants Host Jameis Winston, Zach Pascal

March 18th, 2025 at 6:32pm CST by Adam La Rose

MAR 18: Winston becomes the third quarterback to visit New York and leave without a deal, following Wilson and Flacco. Everyone continues to be in a sort of holding pattern with the decision of Rodgers holding sway over the decisions of several others. A series of secondary decisions seems increasingly likely to be made in the wake of an eventual Rodgers’ choice.

MAR 17: As the Giants continue to wait out the remaining veteran quarterback market, another potential target has emerged. Jameis Winston will visit New York tomorrow, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.

The Giants are among the teams whose plans under center depend in large part on what Aaron Rodgers decides to do in 2025. Provided the 41-year-old suits up for next season, he could do so by following his two-year Jets run with MetLife Stadium’s other team. The Giants are believed to have the best Rodgers offer on the table, but the Steelers have also made their pitch while the Vikings loom as a landing spot as well.

In need of contingencies, therefore, New York has checked in on other veteran passers. The team hosted Russell Wilson on a visit last week, repeating the process which preceded his 2024 Pittsburgh agreement. A weekend report indicated Wilson is ready to sign at any time, but that is unlikely to take place until Rodgers makes his decision. Another Steelers pact could be in play, while the Browns also hosted Wilson. Joe Flacco has already met with the Giants, but is is under consideration for other QB-needy teams as well.

Winston made it clear in the build-up to the Super Bowl that he would be open to joining the Giants, who currently only have Tommy DeVito under contract. Adding a passer on Day 1 of the draft is certainly in play, as New York owns pick No. 3 and could be willing to trade up and select Cam Ward. Bringing in Winston, 31, would give the team a veteran of 87 starts capable of handling (or at least competing for) QB1 duties in 2025.

Winston signed with the Browns to serve as their backup last offseason, but Deshaun Watson‘s Achilles tear allowed him to start seven games. Winston said last month he hoped to remain in Cleveland, but the team has since swung a trade for Kenny Pickett. A deal with the Chargers or 49ers (with whom the former No. 1 pick has spoken) could be more feasible as a result. The Giants will now find themselves in the mix if tomorrow’s visit goes well.

Before Winston meets with the Giants, the team will bring in Zach Pascal. The veteran wideout is visiting today, Pelissero’s colleague Mike Garafolo reports. Pascal has worked with Giants receivers coach Mike Groh in Indianapolis, and the former Eagle and Cardinal would provide depth at the position if he were to sign.

QB Jameis Winston In Conversation With 49ers, Chargers

March 10th, 2025 at 6:27pm CST by Ely Allen

It’s looks like West Coast could be the best coast for veteran quarterback Jameis Winston, as senior NFL insider Josina Anderson reports that the recent backup has been in conversation with the 49ers and Chargers for potential backup roles. While it doesn’t appear that he’s a priority in New York, Anderson notes that the Giants could get involved here, too, depending on the outcome of talks with other passing options.

Both situations in San Francisco and Los Angeles are obvious backup situations behind young quarterbacks who have an extremely solid hold on their starting jobs. The Chargers recently gave Justin Herbert an extension that, at the time, made him the highest-paid player in the NFL, though he was quickly surpassed by Joe Burrow. Brock Purdy isn’t quite there yet, though he will finally make multi-millions in 2025, but the 49ers have been in conversations about extending him for some time now.

In San Francisco, the 49ers would be bringing in Winston as an improvement over Tanner Mordecai, as Joshua Dobbs and Brandon Allen head to free agency this week. The Chargers are simply looking to fill their depth chart at the position as they currently don’t have anyone under contract behind Herbert; Taylor Heinicke and Easton Stick are set to be free agents, as well.

The Giants have several options on the table as the explore options with veteran free agents like Aaron Rodgers and Russell Wilson after watching other options like Sam Darnold and Justin Fields come off the market. Winston would actually be a smart signing for them as they’ve also been heavily linked to using their No. 3 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft on a quarterback. If they do draft a passer in the first round, Winston has proved he can be an effective starter to bridge the gap until the rookie is ready to take over.

QB Jameis Winston Wants To Re-Sign With Browns

February 14th, 2025 at 8:59am CST by Adam La Rose

Jameis Winston is among the veteran quarterbacks set to hit free agency in March. Given the way his Browns tenure ended in 2024, a strong market of outside teams may not be in place provided he finds himself on the move this spring. If Winston has his way, though, he will remain in Cleveland for 2025.

“I would love to go back there,” he said during an appearance on Up & Adams (via cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot). “Cleveland was better than what I expected. Cleveland has the best 90 days of anywhere in the world.”

The former No. 1 pick spent the first nine years of his career in the NFC South (five with the Buccaneers, four with the Saints) before taking a one-year Browns deal last offseason. That $4MM pact gave the team veteran insurance behind Deshaun Watson on the depth chart, something which became significant when he suffered a season-ending Achilles tear.

Watson’s absence opened the door for Winston to take over QB1 duties over a seven-game stretch. The 31-year-old topped 300 passing yards three times over that span – including a 497-yard outing against the Broncos – but his 12 interceptions helped inform the team’s decision to take a different direction to close out the campaign. Dorian Thompson-Robinson and Bailey Zappe took over the rest of the way, a sign Cleveland would prefer to move on from Winston this offseason.

Since then, Watson has suffered a second Achilles tear, leaving his 2025 availability in doubt. Thompson-Robinson is on the books for next season, but the team is expected to be in the market for at least one new passer via trade or free agency in the near future. Failing that, the draft will become an area of focus at that position. The Browns own the No. 2 pick, and their evaluation of the top prospects will include a visit with Shedeur Sanders.

Winston made it clear earlier this month that he would be on board with a Giants pact, one which could allow him to operate as a bridge starter depending on how the team operates during the draft. New York also has a Sanders visit lined up, and by means of owning the No. 3 selection the team could be in play for adding him or Cam Ward during the first round. The Giants will no doubt be connected to other passers this spring, though, and it remains to be seen if a reciprocal interest will exist as it pertains to Winston.

The Florida State product has said in the past he still views himself as being capable of operating as a full-time starter in the NFL. Considering his Cleveland performances in 2024, it is difficult to envision an unchallenged opportunity atop a depth chart coming Winston’s way. If the Browns offer him a new deal, though, a second season with the team will become likely.

QB Jameis Winston Open To Giants Deal

February 4th, 2025 at 9:48am CST by Adam La Rose

During the events of Super Bowl Media Day, Jameis Winston assumed the role of past-time correspondent. That produced a notable interaction with Eagles running back Saquon Barkley in which the veteran passer spoke about his future.

Winston is a pending free agent, and the Browns may look elsewhere for help under center on the open market or during the draft. The former No. 1 pick could still have a number of suitors, though, given the excess of demand at the position relative to supply (especially given this year’s group of QB prospects). One team in need of a new quarterback is the Giants.

Barkley mentioned his former team when speaking to Winston about the latter’s options on the open market this spring. New York moved on from Daniel Jones midway through the 2024 campaign, ending his time with the franchise not long after he inked a four-year, $160MM extension. Drew Lock is a pending free agent while Tommy DeVito‘s future is also uncertain. Using the No. 3 pick on a passer looms as an option, but bringing in a veteran like Winston could also be on the table. The 31-year-old would be on board with such a move.

“Would I really sign with the Giants? Absolutely!” Winston said when speaking with Ryan Novozinsky of NJ.com. “I want to keep playing and do what I do best.”

After a five-year run with the Buccaneers, Winston spent four seasons in New Orleans. That spell included 10 starts, and the Florida State product made it clear he still viewed himself as being capable of handling QB1 duties. In 2024, he found himself making seven starts in the wake of Deshaun Watson‘s Achilles tear, although Dorian Thompson-Robinson and Bailey Zappe also saw time atop the depth chart at the end of the campaign.

Watson is set to miss some (potentially all) of the 2025 campaign in the wake of his second Achilles tear, and Thompson-Robinson’s time as a starter has not been sufficient to ensure competition will not be brought in. Winston could be retained on a another one-year deal, but outside suitors could be willing to bring him in as veteran insurance. It will be interesting to see if the Giants prove to be one of them. In any case, Winston is clearly intent on continuing his NFL career in 2025.

Browns To Start Dorian Thompson-Robinson In Week 16

December 17th, 2024 at 12:55pm CST by Sam Robinson

Jameis Winston‘s INT spree will produce a benching. The Browns are going with Dorian Thompson-Robinson in Week 16, Brad Stainbrook of the Orange and Brown Report notes.

Kevin Stefanski, who parked Winston during what became a six-turnover Browns performance against the Chiefs, will take another look at a second-year player over one that is on an expiring contract. Cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot confirms Winston will take a seat after making seven starts this season. Indicating Winston will be DTR’s backup, Stefanski refused to commit to the younger passer beyond Week 16.

Despite this low start count, Winston is already tied for fourth in INTs (12). Only Kirk Cousins (16), Baker Mayfield (14) and Geno Smith (13) have more. All three have started every game for their respective teams this season. Winston has been unable to curb a turnover habit that defined his Buccaneers tenure, one that infamously ended with the QB throwing an astounding 30 interceptions in 2019. Winston threw three picks against Kansas City, a game that came two weeks after another three-INT game in Denver.

With the Browns now 3-11, they are fully in evaluation mode. Thompson-Robinson is under contract through the 2026 season, being chosen in the 2023 fifth round. Although the Browns have needed to make changes based on the UCLA product’s lack of readiness at multiple points during his first two seasons, it appears he will close the show for this year’s disappointing team.

Thompson-Robinson, who impressed the Browns to the point they traded would-be 2023 backup Josh Dobbs to the Cardinals just before last season, has made three starts. He has completed just 51.4% of his passes as a pro, adding three more interceptions — including one against the Chiefs — to his TD-INT ratio this season. That ratio sits at 1:7 right now. The Browns are expected to pursue another starter-caliber quarterback in 2025, albeit one who will compete with Deshaun Watson, but the team will see how Thompson-Robinson fares ahead of a high-stakes offseason.

Winston, 30, is playing out a one-year, $4MM deal. The Browns preferred him to 2023 Comeback Player of the Year Joe Flacco, not making the latter an offer. Winston has produced highs and lows, continuing an inconsistent career. He threw for a Browns-record 497 yards against the Broncos, giving Jerry Jeudy a revenge game for the ages. Winston tossed two pick-sixes in that matchup. That came after Winston had helped the Browns beat the Ravens in the first game after Watson’s Achilles tear; the former No. 1 overall pick followed it up with a three-pick showing in a one-sided loss to the Chargers.

The Browns cannot realistically drop Watson due to two fully guaranteed seasons remaining on his five-year, $230MM contract. They are also expected to complete a third restructure with the struggling QB, which will make it more difficult to cut him in 2026. The restructure will, however, allow a bit more breathing room as the Andrew Berry-Kevin Stefanski duo — widely expected to stay — conducts a search for a potential Watson replacement. At this point, it appears unlikely Winston will heavily factor into that pursuit.

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