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NFL Draft 2015 grades: Jameis Winston to Tampa Bay Buccaneers

By Matt Verderame

Nov 8, 2014; Tallahassee, FL, USA; Florida State Seminoles quarterback Jameis Winston (5) warms up before the game against the Virginia Cavaliers at Doak Campbell Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Melina Vastola-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 8, 2014; Tallahassee, FL, USA; Florida State Seminoles quarterback Jameis Winston (5) warms up before the game against the Virginia Cavaliers at Doak Campbell Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Melina Vastola-USA TODAY Sports /
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With the first-overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers confirmed everyone’s suspicions by drafting Florida State Seminoles quarterback Jameis Winston. Winston is the first quarterback taken with the overall first selection since Andrew Luck of Stanford in 2012.

Grade: A

Winston may have some of-the-field questions, but the 6’3, 231-pound Alabama native is a stud between the white lines. As a starter with Florida State, Winston only lost one game while winning the National Championship and Heisman Trophy in his redshirt freshman season. In his sophomore campaign, Winston led Florida State to the Rose Bowl, only to play poorly in a blowout loss to Marcus Mariota and the Oregon Ducks.

Last year, Winston threw for 3,907 yards with 25 touchdowns and 18 interceptions, concerning to some. However, Winston played in a pro-style system under Jimbo Fisher and tested his arm multiple times, instead of hiding behind the spread offenses that are so prevalent in today’s college football.

The Buccaneers clearly needed a quarterback. Don’t believe me? Watch Mike Glennon and Josh McCown throw a football. McCown is onto the Cleveland Browns after being released this offseason, while Glennon remains on the roster but is clearly a backup. Only one other time did the Buccaneers take a quarterback with the top pick in the draft, taking Vinny Testaverde from the University of Miami (FL). Testaverde underwhelmed in Tampa Bay, but went onto a long and productive career in the NFL.

With Winston having targets including Vincent Jackson and Mike Evans, Tampa Bay will be an explosive offense in the mediocre NFC South. After going a miserable 2-14 in 2014, the Buccaneers are poised to have a turnaround in the second year of head coach Lovie Smith’s tenure. Smith is a proven coach, taking the Chicago Bears to the Super Bowl in 2006, where they lost to Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts.

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