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Winston Had the Worst Pre-Season for Top Pick QB in Last 15 years.

Jameis Winston's rookie pre-season campaign was one of the worst among first round QBs in the last 15 years

By JCDeLaTorre
Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Assuming Jameis Winston will not play in Thursday night's pre-season finale against the Miami Dolphins, the Buccaneers top overall draft pick just completed the worst pre-season for a number one overall pick at the QB position and fourth worst among first round quarterbacks (and notable second and third round picks) in the last 15 years.

Those are the facts, folks. I was curious to see if other first round picks have struggled as badly in their rookie pre-seasons as our man Jameis and unfortunately, the answer is not many.

The good news is he's in good company. 2 time Super Bowl champion Eli Manning, Super Bowl Champion Aaron Rodgers, playoff QBs Matt Stafford and Phillip Rivers each were in the same zone as Winston in their rookie pre-season campaigns

Quarterback comp Att pct Yds TD INT QB Rating
Eli Manning 24 49 49 327 0 2 53.7
Rodgers 20 37 54.1 172 1 2 53
Stafford 30 55 54.5 389 1 4 52.8
Winston 23 47 48.9 311 0 2 52.7
Rivers 18 30 60 164 1 3 46.4
Campbell 17 37 45.9 244 1 3 43.1
Freeman 22 49 44.9 238 1 3 41

Of course, the bad news is Stafford went on to have a terrible rookie season. Eli didn't play until week 9 (and played poorly), Rivers and Rogers didn't play at all. The other two QBs on the list, Jason Campbell didn't play his rookie year and Josh Freeman, well, we know what happened with him.

Among top overall selections, Winston performed the worst.

Quarterback comp Att pct Yds TD INT QB Rating
Bradford 33 55 60 338 3 0 95.9
Luck 41 66 62.1 522 3 2 89.3
Palmer 37 54 68.5 451 4 4 87.8
Newton 24 57 42.1 300 1 0 64.9
Alex Smith 20 44 45.5 179 1 0 64.5
David Carr 37 70 52.9 441 1 3 59.3
Vick 15 28 53.6 158 0 1 55.4
Eli Manning 24 49 49 327 0 2 53.7
Stafford 30 55 54.5 389 1 4 52.8
Winston 26 46 48.9 311 0 2 52.7

Of the 7 first round quarterbacks 2000 to complete less than 50% of his passes his rookie pre-season campaign, only Cam Newton went on to have a good rookie season and only Newton, Alex Smith (after years of struggle) and Eli Manning ever had any playoff success.

Quarterback comp Att pct Yds TD INT QB Rating
Weeden 24 49 49 297 0 1 59.6
Eli Manning 24 49 49 327 0 2 53.7
Winston 23 47 48.9 311 0 2 52.7
Campbell 17 37 45.9 244 1 3 43.1
Alex Smith 20 44 45.5 179 1 0 64.5
Freeman 22 49 44.9 238 1 3 41
Newton 24 57 42.1 300 1 0 64.9

So what's the good news? Well, rookie pre-season success doesn't necessarily dictate greatness, either. EJ Manuel holds the rookie pre-season high water mark of the last 15 years with a 112 QB Rating and a 78.8 completion percentage. Mark Sanchez, Brady Quinn, RG III and JP Losman are also in the top ten.

For those wondering, Mariota interestingly only threw the ball 27 times this pre-season (second lowest among first rounders) and the Titans only exposed him to 10 drives. Mariota's offense was highly efficient in those 10 drives, garnering 20 points but none were a direct result of a pass or run by Marcus.

Winston had 21 drives and saw his offenses score 24 points, but 14 of those came on Winston touchdown scrambles.

Each finished with 2 turnovers and no touchdown passes on the campaign. Mariota's completion percentage was a stellar 70.4 pct and his yds per completion was a solid 13.2. Winston's yard per completion was actually worse, 11.9.

No, Mariota's campaign wasn't the greatest we've seen in the last 15 years, but he didn't have much opportunity as the Titans seemed focused on limiting his exposure. Mariota and Winston became the sixth and seventh first round QBs not to throw a touchdown pass in the pre-season joining Eli, Michael Vick, Brandon Weeden, Chad Pennington and Losman.

The bottom line is Winston had a very rough pre-season and Buc fans better hope he follows in the footsteps of Cam Newton and not Matt Stafford in 2015.

Since 2000, First Rd Quarterbacks and QBs of Note Rookie PreSeason Numbers

Quarterback comp Att pct Yds TD INT QB Rating
Manuel 26 33 78.8 199 2 0 112
Bridgewater 30 49 61.2 283 5 0 111.2
Sanchez 24 37 64.9 347 3 1 111
Wilson (3rd Rd) 40 63 63.5 536 5 1 110.3
Bortles 32 51 62.7 521 2 0 110
Cutler 40 62 64.5 561 4 1 108.3
Leftwich 21 29 72.4 206 1 0 103.5
Griffin III 20 31 64.5 193 2 0 103.3
Quinn 29 45 64.4 300 3 1 96.5
Losman 9 11 81.8 78 0 0 96.2
Bradford 33 55 60 338 3 0 95.9
Leinart 29 47 61.7 314 2 0 95.5
Boller 40 68 58.8 456 4 1 92.5
Luck 41 66 62.1 522 3 2 89.3
Brees (2nd Rd) 42 71 59.2 481 2 0 89
Locker 32 49 65.3 316 2 1 88.5
Tebow 25 39 64.1 344 2 2 88
Palmer 37 54 68.5 451 4 4 87.8
Mariota 19 27 70.4 252 0 1 84.2
Ponder 27 49 55.1 290 1 0 79.5
Manziel 30 59 50.8 296 2 0 76.7
Ryan 34 59 57 294 2 1 75.1
Harrington 63 112 56.3 766 4 4 74.5
Pennington 22 36 61.1 284 0 1 74.3
Roethlisberger 25 43 58 335 1 2 71.4
Flacco 36 57 63 298 1 0 69.4
Young 29 57 50.9 357 1 1 69.1
Tannehill 41 78 52.6 414 1 1 66.9
Ramsey 17 34 50 219 2 2 65.7
Newton 24 57 42.1 300 1 0 64.9
Alex Smith 20 44 45.5 179 1 0 64.5
Gabbert 35 70 50 365 1 1 64.3
Glennon (3rd rd) 33 70 47.1 397 3 3 61.4
Dalton (2nd Rd) 36 60 60 328 1 3 59.6
Weeden 24 49 49 297 0 1 59.6
David Carr 37 70 52.9 441 1 3 59.3
Vick 15 28 53.6 158 0 1 55.4
Eli Manning 24 49 49 327 0 2 53.7
Rodgers 20 37 54.1 172 1 2 53
Stafford 30 55 54.5 389 1 4 52.8
Winston 23 47 48.9 311 0 2 52.7
Rivers 18 30 60 164 1 3 46.4
Campbell 17 37 45.9 244 1 3 43.1
Freeman 22 49 44.9 238 1 3 41
JaMarcus Russell did not play in the pre-season his rookie year due to a contract dispute

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