Here we go: The Athletic’s Shams Charania reports that the New Orleans Saints have agreed on a contract extension with quarterback Jameis Winston, one of their top pending free agents. ESPN’s Adam Schefter confirmed the news, adding that Winston’s one-year extension is worth up to $12 million. Winston returns to New Orleans for a training camp battle with Taysom Hill to decide who replaces Drew Brees in 2021.
Winston arrived with the Saints last summer after appearing in 72 games (70 starts) with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who drafted him first overall back in 2015. While he attempted just 11 passes for New Orleans in the regular season, completing 7 of them for 75 yards, he showed off the big arm Sean Payton coveted on a 56-yard touchdown lob in the playoffs against his old Bucs squad.
Now he’ll have an opportunity to show the growth he hoped to achieve in signing with the Saints on a below-market contract. The big plays have never been a problem for Winston, who led the NFL in passing yards in 2019. It’s that he created just as many negative plays for the opposing team with 88 interceptions and 50 fumbles, a combined 138 giveaways in just 72 career games with Tampa Bay. If Winston has cut down on those errors, he should be favored to win the starting gig over Hill.
