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Jameis Winston has spent the last three NFL seasons with the New Orleans Saints after beginning his career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He was hoping to get another chance to be their starting quarterback for the 2023 NFL season, but that no longer appears to be on the table for him. The Saints are reportedly close to finalizing a deal to bring Derek Carr to New Orleans.
If the Saints do in fact land the former Las Vegas Raiders quarterback during the 2023 NFL free agency period, Jameis Winston will likely be released as a salary-cap casualty. He will likely look to join a new team with hopes of becoming a starter as he joins a crowded class of free-agent quarterbacks.
Jameis Winston is an interesting quarterback candidate for teams looking to make a change. He has shown flashes of brilliance throughout his career, but also comes with more risk than most other veteran options. He has only appeared in 10 games over the last two years while dealing with several injuries before being replaced by Andy Dalton during the 2022 NFL season.
A perfect example of the type of quarterback Jameis Winston is on the football field is his absurd 2019 NFL season with the Buccaneers. He led the entire NFL with a massive 5,109 passing yards, but also led the way with an alarming 30 interceptions. He clearly has upside for a team that believes they can limit his turnovers.
Here are three potential landing spots that make sense for Jameis Winston during the 2023 NFL free-agency period.
#1 Carolina Panthers
Baker Mayfield and Sam Darnold are both free agents in 2023 after their contracts with the Carolina Panthers officially expired. The team has a clear need at quarterback for the upcoming season. The franchise also recently hired Frank Reich to take over as their new head coach this year.
Reich has a history of gambling on veteran quarterbacks who come with apparent risks. Carson Wentz and Philip Rivers are perfect examples of this. Reich could choose to go that route once again by signing Jameis Winston. Winston could also serve as a bridge quarterback, if the Panthers select a rookie in the 2023 NFL Draft.
#2 New York Jets
The New York Jets have made it clear that they are in the market to acquire a veteran quarterback during the 2023 NFL offseason. They have been linked to Derek Carr, Lamar Jackson and Aaron Rodgers to potentially replace Zach Wilson.
Carr is allegedly off the table as he's nearing a deal with the Saints. If the Jets fail to land one of the superstar options in a potential trade, they may have to go deeper in exploring the free-agent market.
Jameis Winston is a legitimate possibility with more upside than most if the Jets are truly committed to acquiring a veteran.
#3 Washington Commanders
Washington Commanders head coach Ron Rivera announced prior to the start of the 2022 NFL season that the franchise would be aggressive in their pursuit of a franchise quarterback. They were diligent in their search, but ended up with Carson Wentz.
Wentz failed to secure the long-term starting job, as did Taylor Heinicke, so the Commanders are expected to be in the quarterback market again in 2023. Their options may be limited as they are a less attractive destination than most other teams. With Jameis Winston not expected to be in relatively high demand, the pairing might make sense for both sides.
