Ranking every Tampa Bay Buccaneers first round draft pick since 2014
By Josh Crysler
6. Jameis Winston, QB/Florida State - 2015 NFL Draft - Round 1, Pick 1
While Jameis Winston's career with the Bucs didn't play out the way either party had hoped, it is hard to fault Jason Licht for selecting Winston with the first overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft. He was the consensus best player in the draft and was a local product coming out of Florida State University. Winston was coming off an illustrious collegiate career where he led the Seminoles to a 26-1 overall record in his tenure.
The Bucs were coming off a 2-14 season led by quarterbacks Mike Glennon and Josh McCown, and needless to say, the Bucs were in dire need of a new quarterback. The only other option for the Bucs would've been to draft Marcus Mariota out of Oregon, but even in hindsight, Winston was the right pick for the Buccaneers at the time. Winston was the more decorated and was viewed as the more pro-ready quarterback entering the draft. He had tremendous leadership qualities by all accounts and had proven himself as a winner.
What Licht does deserve fault for is his failure to provide his young quarterback with a quality supporting cast. For much of Winston's time in Tampa Bay, the team had a porous defense, no legitimate rushing attack, and a subpar offensive line.
Additionally, the team had a revolving door of head coaches and coordinators, failing to provide Winston with organizational stability. Winston's turnovers were a big problem, but there was a lot more to the Bucs' struggles than just that.
While the team didn't see as much success as they expected to under Winston, Licht was correct in his assessment of Winston as the best option for the Buccaneers in 2015. Winston made the Pro Bowl as a rookie, broke just about every Buccaneers' passing record, and is one of only nine quarterbacks in NFL history to throw for over 5,000 yards in a single season, proving he can be one of the most productive quarterbacks in the league.
The flashes were there, but the Bucs failed to unlock Winston's full potential.