The Pewter Plank
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Buccaneers have an Offensive Player of the Year candidate in Jameis Winston

By Rob Leeds

CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - SEPTEMBER 12: Jameis Winston #3 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers runs with the ball in the third quarter during their game against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium on September 12, 2019 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - SEPTEMBER 12: Jameis Winston #3 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers runs with the ball in the third quarter during their game against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium on September 12, 2019 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images) /
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ARLINGTON, TEXAS – AUGUST 29: Jameis Winston #3 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers talks with head coach Bruce Arians of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers before a NFL preseason game at AT&T Stadium on August 29, 2019 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TEXAS – AUGUST 29: Jameis Winston #3 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers talks with head coach Bruce Arians of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers before a NFL preseason game at AT&T Stadium on August 29, 2019 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /

Keeping pace with the Prescott, Rodgers, Wilson

If Jameis can finish the season with a stat line of 4,668/36/20 he should be in contention for NFC Offensive Player of the Year. If, on the other hand, Jameis can move those numbers a little further in either direction and have a stat line that looks more like 4,668/40/10-12, Jameis should at least be in the conversation for MVP of the league although Mahomes will almost assuredly win it.

Despite all of the criticism of his game and his personal life and year after year outside of the playoffs, Jameis is finally playing like a first overall draft pick. If four games are any indication (which they may or may not be) then Jameis will be getting an extension and the Buccaneers will be competing for a playoff spot.

To the doubters of Jameis: any and all doubt has been warranted as Jameis has been erratic and thrown some down-right head scratching picks throughout his career. Winston has also made some very questionable decisions off the field which certainly makes it hard for the team to cut him slack.

dark. Next. Buccaneers roster full of Pro Football Focus standouts

Assuming Jameis is able to maintain this level of play and keep his name out of the media for the wrong reasons, he is taking steps in the right direction to be a true franchise player. The Buccaneers need consistency at quarterback, and Jameis Winston under Bruce Arians is starting to show that he can provide that, and at a high level to boot.

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