Buccaneers can credit Jameis Winston for landing DeSean Jackson

The Buccaneers’ biggest off-season acquisition was burner DeSean Jackson, but much of the credit for his arrival belongs to Jameis Winston.

It’s pretty mind blowing to think that just a few short years ago, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were having to pay well over market value for any free agent to even think about Tampa as a potential destination. Now? Well, things have changed a bit thanks in large part to Jameis Winston.

Players are excited to play with a guy like Jameis. His enthusiasm, his work ethic, his leadership. It wasn’t hyperbole when former teammates and coaches said players were drawn to him. That’s become even more evident thanks to a recent feature by Jonathan Jones of Sports Illustrated.

Jones talks about Winston being a key part of the recruiting process that brought DeSean Jackson to the Bucs to be the speedy deep threat they so desperately missed last season. Jones writes;

More from Bucs News

• Devin White posts cryptic message to Lavonte David on Twitter
• Updated Buccaneers depth chart after signing two players from rookie minicamp
• Todd Bowles sends clear message about Baker Mayfield’s role with Bucs
• The Athletic is wrong about Bucs one ‘must-watch’ game in 2023
• Todd Bowles admits he only looks at three things on Bucs schedule

"“Jackson, a three-time Pro Bowler, was about to be on his third team in 10 seasons and Jameis Winston wanted to be sure he landed in Tampa. So the third-year quarterback wrangled Jackson’s number and texted him nearly every day.‘We needed a big-time playmaker,’ Winston says.Winston then encouraged his top receiver Mike Evans to get in on the text game. Evans had played against Washington and Jackson twice in three years and considered the speedster a friend. He realized that he had Jackson’s number and shot him a text.‘Come holla at us’ was the summary of Evans’ text to Jackson, who fired back, “How’d you know?” By the time Evans had texted Jackson, he had already made up his mind to be a Buccaneer. The next night, Evans, Jackson and offensive coordinator Todd Monken were eating dinner together, getting to know each other and talking about the things to come."

This is all part of the culture change in Tampa that came with the drafting of Winston and the hiring of Dirk Koetter, that players want to play here because they sense something special is on the horizon. As we’ve said for three off-seasons now, that all starts with number three under center.

Jones would go on to talk about how the Buccaneers have become the trendy pick to win the NFC South, given the addition of Jackson as well as players like O.J. Howard, Chris Godwin, and Chris Baker. And although that may be true in some circles, others still can’t seem to give the Buccaneers any love – and that’s fine. Let them continue to doubt, it’s up to the Bucs to prove them wrong.

Next: Tandy Appears Cemented As A Starter

Things are coming together, piece by piece, in Tampa Bay. For a team that appeared to have the cellar reserved for the better part of a decade just a few short years ago, Jason Licht has done a tremendous job in rebuilding this team – and doing it fast.