Report: Bucs expected to re-sign Winston to some extent

The future is still uncertain for Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston. But that doesn’t mean information on what’s next for him is being ignored.

In the latest ESPN Insider article by Jeremy Fowler, he writes that several within the league feel Tampa Bay will be re-signing Winston short-term or use a tag on him.

Multiple people around the league expect the Bucs to place a franchise or transition tag on Winston — who would make between $24 million and $27 million in that case — or sign him to a short-term, modest deal well below the $30-million-per-year threshold reserved for top QBs.

That range may be fair for a guy like Winston given the way that his 2019 campaign developed. However, rumblings from Winston’s camp have hinted towards an asking price north of $30-million a season. The report suggests the Bucs have looked into giving their former first overall pick a two-year deal with the first year being guaranteed similar to the franchise tag figure and a second year team option.

Going back to the tags, ESPN’s Dan Graziano suggests that a transition tag would be a good idea because the Buccaneers would then see what other teams come in offering Winston and have a chance to match.

Regardless of the route they take, there are some within the league that feel Winston can win in the NFL. Fowler’s source says that the Bucs can certainly win games with him under center.

“He knows the [Bucs] system, he showed when healthy he provides the opportunity to win games, and he’s in the ideal offense for him,” one personnel man said. “They are a vertical passing team, second-level-type reads. That’s why you see explosive plays and aggressiveness, which lends itself to at least some turnovers. Jameis has that [Ben] Roethlisberger mentality, so if they can cut down the turnovers significantly, they can win games with him.”

Teams across the league can begin applying the franchise or transition tag to players beginning Tuesday, February 25. Bringing back Winston wouldn’t be a bad thing as it will bring continuity to the position within the same system.

It’ll be interesting to see the direction the Bucs go.