Jameis Winston - Pro Football Rumors

Buccaneers Sign Jameis Winston

May 1st, 2015 at 3:09pm CST by Luke Adams

3:09pm: Winston’s rookie contract is worth $25.35MM, including a $16.7MM signing bonus, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com.

3:07pm: The first player selected in last night’s draft is also the first member of 2015’s draft class to sign his rookie contract. Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht told reporters today, including Ed Werder of ESPN.com (Twitter link), that quarterback Jameis Winston has already officially signed with the team.

While the exact value of Winston’s four-year rookie contract isn’t yet known, it figures to be a little bigger than the deal signed by last year’s first overall pick, Jadeveon Clowney. Clowney’s four-year, $22.273MM pact was fully guaranteed and featured a signing bonus worth about $14.519MM. Like Clowney’s deal, Winston’s will include a fifth-year option, which would apply to the 2019 season.

Winston is the clearly the biggest piece of Tampa’s offseason rebuild, following the club’s signing of free agents Henry Melton, Chris Conte, and Bruce Carter, and acquisition of George Johnson. Winston figures to immediately slot in as the Bucs’ starting quarterback, ahead of 2013 draftee Mike Glennon.

Bucs Draft Jameis Winston First Overall

April 30th, 2015 at 7:12pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Buccaneers have selected Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston with the first overall pick. The 2013 Heisman winner has long been cemented as Tampa Bay’s probable choice with the top selection, with Oregon QB Marcus Mariota also having generated consideration.

Winston emerged as a national name during the 2013 season, during which he passed for more than 4,000 yards and 40 touchdowns en route to leading the Seminoles to the National Championship. During his redshirt sophomore season in 2014, Winton took a bit of step back, throwing for just 25 touchdowns and 18 interceptions. However, he did take FSU to the semifinals of the College Football Playoff, and finished his career with a 26-1 record.

Of course, Winston has been involved in his share of off-the-field trouble, including a sexual assault allegation and shoplifting incidents. Some in the Bucs’ ownership group were reportedly uncomfortable with tabbing Winston as the club’s face of the franchise, but he apparently alleviated many of those concerns through the predraft process.

Winston is the clearly the biggest piece of Tampa’s offseason rebuild, following the club’s signing of free agents Henry Melton, Chris Conte, and Bruce Carter, and acquisition of George Johnson. Winston will immediately slot in as the Buccaneers’ starting quarterback, ahead of 2013 draftee Mike Glennon.

Bucs Committed To Drafting Winston; Deal Unlikely

April 30th, 2015 at 5:50pm CST by Luke Adams

5:50pm: The Buccaneers are committed to drafting Winston with the first overall pick at this point, and don’t feel they’ll receive enough value to make a trade worthwhile, tweets Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times.

5:35pm: Within the past hour, the Bucs have been receiving calls about trading the first overall pick, including one from the Eagles, but nothing is happening on that front at the moment, per Werder (all Twitter links). Werder adds that NFL sources who are most familiar with Tampa Bay’s coaching staff and management team are convinced that the club won’t give up its chance to draft Winston.

4:56pm: While a number of teams have spoken to the Titans about the No. 2 overall pick and Marcus Mariota, it’s “pretty clear” that the Eagles are the team most aggressively pursuing that selection, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. Meanwhile, Mike Freeman of Bleacher Report tweets that the Titans aren’t the only team at the top of the draft getting calls about their pick — the Buccaneers are also receiving inquiries about the first overall pick.

If the Titans aren’t budging off of No. 2, it makes sense that the Eagles would contact the Bucs about the first overall pick — Tampa Bay might not want quite as massive a haul as Tennessee, and perhaps talking to both teams could give Philadelphia some leverage in trade discussions. According to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, there are indeed rumblings that the Eagles could set their sights on that first overall pick, though it’s not clear what combination of picks and players the Bucs might want for it.

Although the Eagles still could make a last-ditch effort for that first overall pick, Ed Werder of ESPN.com (Twitter link) has been assured twice by his “most trusted” Bucs source that, as of 45 minutes ago, the team isn’t discussing a deal with Philadelphia. However, Werder adds (via Twitter) that GM Jason Licht‘s colleagues have told him he’ll be surprised how many offers come in late, so Tampa Bay isn’t locking in that No. 1 pick quite yet.

I doubt the Eagles will put an offer on the table that makes the Bucs part with the first overall pick, but if the club has any lingering doubts about Jameis Winston‘s off-field behavior, the idea of loading up on draft picks and/or established NFL veterans could have some appeal. At this point though, a deal appears very unlikely.

NFC South Notes: Winston, Bucs, Saints

April 29th, 2015 at 9:25pm CST by Zachary Links

Ed Werder of ESPN.com (on Twitter) hears that the Buccaneers will not inform the player they’re picking of their decision until they’re on the clock Thursday night. Get ready for some nail biting from this year’s top two prospects. Here’s more from the NFC South..

There’s a rumor that Buccaneers players have been told that Jameis Winston will be the pick, but Matt Miller of Bleacher Report (on Twitter) hears that’s false based on conversations with four Tampa Bay players.
The Saints worked out quarterback Garrett Grayson on Monday, according to Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (on Twitter). Today was the final allowable day for workouts of draft prospects. The Saints have been previously linked to Grayson.
Texas A&M corner Deshazor Everett worked out for the Buccaneers, according to Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post. The speedster also auditioned for the Chargers, Bengals, Dolphins, and Jets.

South Notes: Bucs, Winston, Saints, Colts

April 26th, 2015 at 3:27pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston is expected to selected first overall by Tampa Bay on Thursday night, and the Buccaneers have certainly done their research on the 2013 Heisman winner. General manager Jason Licht tells Joey Johnston and Roy Cummings of the Tampa Tribune that his club spoke with more than 75 people in an attempt to properly vet Winston. Curiously, the Bucs did not speak with the woman who accused Winston of sexual assault in 2013, but they did talk to a member of the Tallahassee State Attorney’s Office, which declined to press charges against Winston.

Here’s more from the NFL’s South divisions…

Of the 18 prospects who are known to have visited the Saints, 12 are defensive players, which could be an indication of which direction New Orleans is leaning with its two first-round picks, writes Evan Woodbery of NOLA.com. Of course, as Woodbery adds, each club is allotted 30 predraft visits, so there up to 12 Saints player meetings that the public isn’t aware of.
Speaking of the Saints, Mike Triplett of ESPN.com doesn’t think the club will take a risk on players with off-the-field trouble, such as edge rusher Randy Gregory or receiver Dorial Green-Beckham.
The Colts will likely have to trade up if they want a chance at a player like Alabama safety Landon Collins, according to Mike Wells of ESPN.com. Indianapolis owns nine picks, so they could have the draft capital to make such a move.
Although a poor draft (and a similarly underwhelming 2015 season) would probably threaten the job of Titans GM Ruston Webster more than head coach Ken Whisenhunt, Paul Kuharsky of ESPN.com thinks both could be in jeopardy if Tennessee struggles this year.

Draft Rumors: Clemmings, Mariota, Gregory

April 24th, 2015 at 1:55pm CST by Luke Adams

Pittsburgh offensive tackle T.J. Clemmings is the latest prospect to discover an injury during a team visit. A source tells Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link) that Clemmings was diagnosed with a stress fracture in his foot, despite not feeling any pain. It remains to be seen how the injury will affect the draft position of Clemmings, who is viewed as one of the best offensive lineman in the draft.

Draft Notes: Thompson, Winston, Gurley

April 22nd, 2015 at 8:23pm CST by Zachary Links

We’re just days away from the 2015 draft! Here’s the latest news from around the league..

Shaq Thompson told Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk (on Twitter) that he has drawn the most interest from the Panthers, who both worked him out and brought him in for a visit. Thompson, one of the best athletes in this year’s draft class, could be a strong option for the Panthers to groom as an outside linebacker behind Thomas Davis.
Sources from five different teams tell Albert Breer of NFL.com (on Twitter) that Georgia running back Todd Gurley has a great shot to be ready by Week 1 of the NFL season. Right now, his medicals from Indianapolis indicate that he’ll be back at some point during training camp, though how his situation is handled will depend on the team that drafts him (link).
Former Florida State star quarterback Jameis Winston said he received free food from Publix, which led to his shoplifting citation last year and could be a violation of NCAA rules, as Matt Baker of the Tampa Bay Times writes. One GM told Mike Freeman of Bleacher Report (on Twitter) that Winston’s story checks out. “Our investigators found several Publix employees who corroborated what Winston said. Winston told this story to our team and I believe others. We were able to determine that he was telling the truth. I won’t get into more detail than that,” the GM said.
Miami offensive tackle Ereck Flowers is visiting the Rams today, according to Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch (via Twitter). Flowers is projected to be a first round pick with some pegging him as a candidate for St. Louis at No. 10 overall.

Extra Points: Brown, Jets, Winston

April 21st, 2015 at 9:55pm CST by Zachary Links

Steelers star Antonio Brown is seeking a new deal, but Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette doesn’t see it happening. Brown is in the middle of a six-year, $43MM pact that he signed in 2012 and the scribe can’t remember another Pittsburgh player pushing for a new deal with three years still to go. The Steelers might want to compensate Brown better (he’s not among the top 10 highest-paid wide receivers), but doing so would set a very bad precedent going forward. Here’s more from around the NFL…

It turns out FSU quarterback Jameis Winston won’t visit the Jets after all, Rich Cimini of ESPNNewYork.com tweets. That doesn’t mean Gang Green has removed him from the draft board, but it does mean that they probably have enough info on the signal caller. Of course, the Jets pick at No. 6 and Winston is widely expected to go No. 1.
No surprise here, but ESPN.com’s Paul Kuharsky hears from a source that Winston is ‘in play’ for the Titans if he’s available at No. 2. The Titans have done their homework on Winston and feel that he “checks out,” according to the source.
Starting inside linebacker Jerrell Freeman has abstained from the Colts‘ voluntary workouts so far, Stephen Holder of the Indy Star writes. Freeman, a restricted free agent, was issued a tender but has yet to sign it. Ostensibly, the 28-year-old is holding out for a more favorable deal. Freeman led the Colts in tackles in 2012 and 2013.
The Bengals hosted TCU linebacker Paul Dawson on a visit spanning Monday and Tuesday, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. The Bengals are keeping a watchful eye on Dawson and other intriguing linebackers in this year’s class as Vontaze Burfict recovers from microfracture surgery.
The Dolphins brought in Texas A&M guard Jarvis Harrison on Tuesday, Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald writes. The Dolphins are looking for help on the interior of their offensive line and the potential mid-round pick has caught their eye.

NFC Notes: Saints, Wilson, Winston

April 21st, 2015 at 7:35pm CST by Zachary Links

Heading into the draft, Don Banks of Sports Illustrated (video link) says the Saints will probably continue their pattern of making surprising moves this offseason. New Orleans will hope that a top talent like Nebraska defensive end Randy Gregory will fall to the No. 13 pick after his positive drug test, but they could instead trade up for him or settle for Kentucky linebacker Bud Dupree. More from the NFC..

The Seahawks feel that Russell Wilson‘s stated interest in transitioning to baseball is nothing more than a bargaining ploy for a new contract, sources tell Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (video link). Wilson hasn’t played minor league ball in four years, never got beyond Single-A, and didn’t demonstrate a whole lot of power. Cole hears that Wilson would be looking at a three- or four-year path before he could even approach the majors, which would be around age 29 or 30. Wilson’s MLB rights are owned by the Texas Rangers.
On a conference call, ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. told reporters, including Matt Baker of the Tampa Bay Times (on Twitter), that it’s “not etched in stone” that Jameis Winston will go No. 1 to the Buccaneers with Marcus Mariota going No. 2 in the draft.
The Cowboys have to use their first pick on a defensive lineman, Rick Gosselin of The Dallas Morning News opines. Even beyond Ndamukong Suh, defensive linemen Jared Odrick, Pernell McPhee, Dan Williams, and Stephen Paea all signed contracts this offseason that placed them among the top 25 deals in free agency. Dallas, he argues, will find it much cheaper to find an impact defensive lineman in the draft rather than on the open market.

NFC Notes: Bucs, Brown, Washington

April 18th, 2015 at 6:06pm CST by Sam Robinson

Linked heavily to Jameis Winston since locking up the No. 1 pick and recently reported to be undeterred by the quarterback’s latest legal issues, the Buccaneers may be backing off that stance slightly. There now could be two draft slots available for teams desperate for signal-calling help, reports Bob Glauber of Newsday.

Although the Bucs, who haven’t held the No. 1 draft choice since taking Vinny Testaverde at that position in 1987, are expected to take either Winston or Marcus Mariota, they are willing to listen to offers for the selection, sources told Glauber. The possibility of stockpiling picks and either selecting a second-tier quarterback later or further determining Mike Glennon‘s legitimacy are contingency plans.

The Browns and Chargers are the most likely teams to pull the trigger on a trade, reports Glauber, with the Jets and Eagles now backing off their pursuits due to Gang Green only possessing six selections and the Eagles unwilling to pay what it would cost to vault from No. 20 to a top-two slot. Glauber notes the Eagles are prepared to go into the season with Sam Bradford as their starter.

A team hasn’t traded a No. 1 pick during the draft since the Eli Manning–Philip Rivers exchange 11 years ago, and the Falcons trading up in 2001 representing the last time a franchise that didn’t finish with the worst record the previous season made the No. 1 overall selection.

Some other notes from around the NFC.

The Mariota-to-Philadelphia rumor has indeed lost steam, according to Dave Spadaro of PhiladelphiaEagles.com, with the prospect of the Eagles adding picks by trading down gaining it. The Eagles own seven picks as of now and traded out of their first-round window last year.
Despite being one of several teams in the late derby to add Stevie Brown, the Giants are still considered “one of the favorites” to re-sign him, reports Jordan Ranaan of NJ.com. The Giants’ offer, however, may not top the market that includes the Cowboys, Falcons, Titans and Raiders. But the 27-year-old former seventh-round pick would be a crucial land for Big Blue, as they are in need of two starting safeties. Little-known commodities Nat Berhe and Cooper Taylor are their incumbents at strong safety, increasing the likelihood of a high draft choice coming to help the Giants on the back end. Although converted corners Chykie Brown, Bennett Jackson and Josh Gordy may provide competition at the free safety position, Brown would immediately surge to the top spot there if he re-signs, reports Ranaan.
Roy Helu‘s exit to Oakland leaves Washington without a proven backup to Alfred Morris. More importantly, Helu (47 receptions, 477 yards last season) was the team’s only proven third-down back. Chris Thompson is now the favorite to assume that role despite seeing backfield action in just two games in 2014, report Tarik El-Bashir and Rich Tandler of CSNWashington.com. Tandler, however, adds that Washington’s coaching staff grew impatient with the 2013 fifth-rounder out of Florida State due to injury struggles and expects this position to be addressed in the draft. Alabama’s T.J. Yeldon, Nebraska’s Ameer Abdullah and Missouri’s Marcus Murphy are among those who would fit here, reports El-Bashir, with Pierre Thomas and his 327 career catches still sitting in free agency.