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NFL Draft results 2015: Tampa Bay Buccaneers take Jameis Winston with No. 1 pick

By Patrick Schmidt

May 1, 2015; Tampa, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston (3), the number one overall draft pick, poses with general manager Jason Licht and head coach Lovie Smith for a photo during a press conference at One Buc Place. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
May 1, 2015; Tampa, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston (3), the number one overall draft pick, poses with general manager Jason Licht and head coach Lovie Smith for a photo during a press conference at One Buc Place. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /
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With the first pick in the 2015 NFL Draft the Tampa Bay Buccaneers drafted Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston.

It was the worst kept secret leading up to the draft that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers wanted Jameis Winston in the draft and that became official on Thursday after they took the former Heisman winner with the first overall pick in the 2015 draft.

The Buccaneers had a miserable 2014 season with Josh McCown and Mike Glennon sharing time as the team’s starting quarterback en route to a 2-14 record in the first year under head coach Lovie Smith and the drafting of Winston gives them a potential franchise quarterback who could lead them back to the playoffs.

This is the fifth No. 1 pick in franchise history and the first time they had the top pick since they took Vinny Testaverde in the 1987 draft. It’s a pick that was perceived as a slam dunk from a football skills standpoint after he won a Heisman, national championship and only lost one game in two years at Florida State. However, it’s not a pick that didn’t come without risk.

Winston’s highly publicized off-the-field incidents that included a shoplifting citation, suspension for yelling an obscenity on campus and a sexual assault accusation that continues to follow him around. He was not charged for the crime but is facing a civil suit from his accuser and the public relations fallout from taking a player with his background represents a risk for the Buccaneers.

Provided Winston’s past is in the past, this should be a home run of a pick for the Buccaneers who have a terrific leader in Winston who will make his teammates better just as he’s done in high school and Florida State. Plus, he has weapons around him to make the transition as easy as possible with Vincent Jackson and last year’s No. 1 pick, Mike Evans at wide receiver.

Smith is getting his most talented quarterback in his time as a head coach and will be all over Winston to make sure his investment is one that pays off with playoff wins and not police reports.

Taking Winston was the only pick the Buccaneers could make this year, because he’s the best quarterback in the draft who can make all the throws to succeed in the NFL and he fills the team’s biggest need.

Now will Winston reward Tampa Bay with the franchise’s second Super Bowl or will the Buccaneers come to regret this move in three years?

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