Cleveland Browns Free Agent Evaluation: QB Jameis Winston

The Browns have a slew of gamers set to change into free brokers in March. We might be going by way of every of these gamers to debate whether or not the workforce ought to re-sign them or allow them to formally hit free company. We start with the quarterback place, particularly QB Jameis Winston.

How and When They Joined the Browns

The Browns made the postseason in 2023, nevertheless it took 5 totally different beginning quarterbacks all through the season to get there. And but, the quarterback who led the cost essentially the most, Joe Flacco, wasn’t even given a contract provide to return. As an alternative, Jameis Winston was referred to as upon to be the backup quarterback to Deshaun Watson for 2024.

Winston was a former first general decide of the complete draft in 2015, and performed 5 years with the Buccaneers and 4 years with the Saints.

Productiveness Degree Final Season

Photograph by Perry Knotts/Getty Photographs

After Watson tore his Achilles, Winston took over because the starter. On the season, he began 7 video games and accomplished 181-of-296 (61.1%) passes for two,121 yards, 13 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. He additionally ran 25 instances for 83 yards and 1 landing, shedding 2 fumbles.

In Winston’s first a number of begins, he threw for 334, 235, 395, 219, and 497 yards. He additionally led the workforce to wins over Baltimore and Pittsburgh, each of whom made the postseason. Issues kind of fizzled out after that, and Dorian Thompson-Robinson was given the keys as a substitute (earlier than giving them as much as Bailey Zappe).

Winston was electrical and thrilling, as a result of it restored religion that anybody apart from Watson can succeed on this offense. On the preliminary pleasure, followers have been already fascinated about how Winston could possibly be the workforce’s quarterback in 2025. Nonetheless, these ideas diminished fairly a bit after the interceptions, and notably the decide sixes, began to pile up for Winston. The 12 months earlier than, with Joe Flacco, he was main the workforce to wins, with some pricey interceptions. There was the same vibe to Winston’s sport, however the turnovers have been most expensive and at inopportune instances.

What the Browns Ought to Do

Winston’s contract final 12 months was initially reported to be a 1-year deal value $8.7 million. Nonetheless, it was closely incentive-laden. It was extra like a 1-year deal value $4 million. This can be a development that Winston has adopted for years along with his contracts — the bottom wage is pretty minimal, however the incentives that he by no means attains are profitable. He would in all probability command the same deal if he have been to return.

I wouldn’t have a difficulty with Winston returning, however he can’t be the starter. He can ship a spark as a backup, however I anticipate Cleveland will attempt to discover a veteran quarterback elsewhere to be their starter, after which draft somebody in a decrease spherical to be the inexpensive backup. Given the Browns’ wage cap scenario, additionally they can’t afford to be allocating a pair million {dollars} to a bunch of veteran gamers.

With that stated, I by no means understood Winston’s persona previous to him coming to Cleveland, and I believed I’d hate it. As an alternative, I liked the man, and will see how a locker room would rally behind him. We’ll additionally at all times have this:

In honor of the snow at present, throwback to Jameis Winston inspiring the complete TNF crew to make snow angels in honor of the Browns kicking some Steeler ass on nationwide tv. pic.twitter.com/y3HCYLIudQ

— Nick Karns (@karnsies817) February 16, 2025

Tell us beneath whether or not or not you suppose the Browns ought to re-sign Jameis Winston.

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Ought to the Browns re-sign QB Jameis Winston?