Jameis Winston returns to Saints on a two-year deal

The New Orleans wisely re-sign quarterback Jameis Winston to a two-year deal in free agency.

After dipping their toes into the murky Deshaun Watson waters, the New Orleans Saints ultimately decided to re-sign one of their own by giving Jameis Winston a two-year contract.

Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network reported it will be a two-year deal worth $28 million, $21 million fully guaranteed. Winston had spent the last two seasons with the Saints after playing his first five with the division rival Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He had been the team’s starter last season up until tearing his ACL. Though he is on the mend, the Saints are comfortable with him for now.

This is a fantastic move for the Saints that sets them up for success, now and in the future.

Jameis Winston re-signs with New Orleans Saints on a two-year deal

Even though Winston’s days as being a franchise quarterback are probably over with, his return to the Saints will keep the team competitive while they adjust to life without former head coach Sean Payton. Winston knows the offense well and should make things easier for Pete Carmichael Jr.’s expanded role as a play-caller, as well as Dennis Allen’s accession to the Saints’ next head coach.

More importantly, what this signing does is give Winston some runway to be a starter again, as well as show he can be the dynamic leader he once was at Florida State. The Saints would not bring him back on a two-year deal like this if they did not trust him. It also gives the franchise a quarterback in the short and medium future, without mortgaging its future anything beyond that.

If Winston plays well in 2022, the Saints could look at extending him beyond 2023. Should he get hurt again or struggle, then New Orleans knows it is time to appropriately replace Drew Brees by looking for a franchise quarterback in the 2023 NFL Draft. Next year’s draft projects to be significantly better at the quarterback position than what the 2022 crop can ever hope to provide.

The Saints have their quarterback issues solved at least temporarily by re-signing Winston.