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Jameis Winston: Five reasons he is the next great QB in the NFL

By John Buhler

Nov 22, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston (3) throws against the Philadelphia Eagles during the first quarter at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 22, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston (3) throws against the Philadelphia Eagles during the first quarter at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jameis Winston is starting to turn heads with his play as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ franchise quarterback.

Jameis Winston was the No. 1 overall draft pick in the 2015 NFL Draft by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, taking him out of Florida State as a redshirt sophomore. Winston was a high-profile passer in college for the Seminoles, winning the 2013 BCS National Championship and the Heisman Trophy in his first season as the starting quarterback.

He led the Seminoles to another undefeated season in the ACC and helped get Florida State the No. 3 seed in the first ever College Football Playoff. After losing his only game as a collegiate player in the Rose Bowl against Marcus Mariota and the Oregon Ducks, Winston declared for the 2015 NFL Draft with two years of eligibility remaining.

Normally it isn’t wise for a quarterback to exhaust any extra years of eligibility, but Winston had almost nothing left to prove at the college level at Florida State. His off-the field-antics were seen as a bit of a distraction, but the Buccaneers nevertheless took him with the first overall selection in the NFL Draft.

In his rookie season, Winston has already given the Bucs more life than they have had this late in the season in some time. Tampa Bay is at .500 with a 6-6 record and alive in the NFC Wild Card race. The Buccaneers are doing many things well in 2015, but the vastly improved quarterback play thanks to the addition of Winston has played a major part in the franchise’s rapid turnaround.

Here are five reasons why Winston could actually be the next great starting quarterback in the National Football League.

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