Heisman busts: 12 biggest Heisman Trophy winners who flamed out in the NFL
By John Buhler
Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. 6. 804. Quarterback. Florida State Seminoles, 2013. Jameis Winston. player
Jameis Winston is in year five of his NFL career as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ starting quarterback. While he was a Pro Bowler as a rookie in 2015, his last four seasons have been marred by interceptions, questionable judgment and not making the NFC playoffs even once. Though he may return to Tampa Bay in 2020, 2019 might be the last year he’s on the team.
As a redshirt freshman in 2013, Winston set the college football world on fire by leading the Florida State Seminoles to an undefeated season and a national championship in the final year of the BCS. He led his Seminoles to another ACC Championship in 2013, but lose to Marcus Mariota‘s Oregon Ducks in the Rose Bowl during the first College Football Playoff. That was his only loss.
Those two would go No. 1 and No. 2, respectively in the 2015 NFL Draft. While Mariota’s Tennessee Titans have had more success than Winston’s Buccaneers, Winston has been a slightly better player at times. However, his inconsistent nature and being a turnover machine have defined his NFL legacy. He’s just the low-end version of Ben Roethlisberger and nothing more.
Will Winston have an NFL career into his 30s? Very likely, as he is a durable, pro-style quarterback who can at least serve as a high-end backup for the second act of his career. Perhaps a change of scenery will bring the best out of him in the 2020s? For now, he’s just going to end up as another Buccaneers quarterback who didn’t do enough under center to earn a second contract with them.