Many rumors have swirled over the past week about the prospect of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers parting ways with QB Jameis Winston.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are reportedly interested in pursuing several options during the free-agency period pertaining to the quarterback position.
The Buccaneers have expressed interested in pursuing veteran free-agent QBs like Tom Brady, Philip Rivers, Teddy Bridgewater and Ryan Tannehill, but there’s also still a confidence that the organization can win with Jameis Winston returning.
The latest news pertaining to Winston is that Tampa Bay is considering allowing him to test the free market while they have conversations with other quarterbacks, like those listed above.
If things don’t work out in those conversations and Winston is still available, the franchise will work to get a deal done with him, most likely for less than his original asking price.
While Winston may have many potential suitors, there’s also an idea that he could be in a ‘lose-lose situation’ as many of the organizations in need of a quarterback will also pursue some of the names mentioned above over him, due to his high interception totals.
Ultimately, though, it still seems we all know how this story will end.
Whether you’re a proponent of Jameis Winston or if you want him gone, it just doesn’t seem likely that the Buccaneers will get a deal done with one of those free-agent quarterbacks listed ahead of Winston. The franchise is attempting to allow Winston the opportunity to see the free market because that will, in turn, likely drive his price down.
Then, the Buccaneers will have their quarterback at a cheaper price with more room to build the roster.
Winston isn’t the first-choice at quarterback and I think that’s pretty clear, but I still don’t see him leaving Tampa. This all feels much more like a smokescreen attempt used as a negotiation tactic by the Buccaneers organization.