What’s next for Jameis Winston and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers?

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have some decisions to make prior to the upcoming free agency in March. The growing list of unrestricted free agents to negotiate now includes their starting quarterback Jameis Winston. The Buccaneers have made no indication yet on whether or not they intend to retain the former Heisman Trophy winner and his play last season doesn’t help to make it any easier to predict. Winston is fresh off of a Jekyll and Hyde of a regular season where he not only led the league in passing yards, but he also led in interceptions.

Many considered the 2019 regular season to be a make or break year for Winston. And with him completing the final year of his rookie extension, the Buccaneers have the option to let their 2015 overall draft pick walk if they don’t see him as part of Tampa Bay’s future. So, what does the 2020 NFL free agency market look like for Winston?

Analyzing Jameis Winston’s 2019 season

Winston had a 2019 regular season filled with records — some good and some bad. Winston finished the season with 5,109 passing yards. Not only did this lead the NFL last season (Dak Prescott followed with 4,902 passing yards) but he was only the eighth NFL quarterback in history to surpass 5,000+ passing yards in a regular season.

All of these passing yards helped Winston hit the top of other metrics in 2019 as well. He averaged 8.2 completed air yardage to his receivers which was second in the league. He also recorded 33 touchdowns, which was second only to Baltimore Raven’s Lamar Jackson (who threw for 36).

Winston’s overall OSM grade according to Pro Football Network was 29.06 for 2019, which ranked him as QB04 and one of the most productive quarterbacks for his team all year. 

Winston’s Week 3 performance against the New York Giants’ defense was arguably his best game of the year. He completed 23 passes for 380 yards and three touchdowns and ended the day with a PFN OSM grade of 51.20. This was the fifth-highest game day OSM grade put up by any NFL quarterback all year.

Winston’s OSM grades were fairly consistent for the year, especially down the home stretch of the season. He had ten games with a 30+ grade which is considered Very Good on the PFN grading scale.

Despite all of the good, there was definitely some ugly. To say that Winston struggled with turning the ball over last year would be an understatement. With all of those high passing numbers, he also threw 30 interceptions during the 2019 regular season.

This was the highest number of INT’s thrown, and nine more than Cleveland Brown’s Baker Mayfield with 21. If this number seems unusually high, it’s because it is. 30 interceptions ties for seventh-most INT’s thrown in a regular-season ever. George Blanda tops that list with 42 back in 1962.

Winston also doesn’t have the playoff record that the Tampa Bay fans would want to see in their franchise QB. With the Buccaneers missing the playoffs again, Winston continues his streak of never making it to the post-season. This, of course, isn’t totally on Winston’s shoulders, but he is the only 5,000-yard quarterback who hasn’t made a post-season appearance.

Will Winston return to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers?

So what does this mean for Winston’s future in Tampa Bay? The Buccaneers have not said publicly whether or not they intend to bring him back next year. They did just cover the cost of his recent LASIK surgery though, so read into that as little or as much as you want.

Many analysts expect to see Winston return to Tampa Bay, but if the two decide to part ways, there are plenty of options for him to explore in 2020. The Indianapolis Colts and the Los Angeles Chargers will both be looking for their next quarterback after losing their franchise QBs this past season. Other teams such as the Patriots, Steelers, and Panthers all are expected to test the waters this offseason as well.

If Winston does end up hitting the market, he will be joined by stout company. This offseason not only brings plenty of buzz with the upcoming QB draft class, but two other of his 5,000+ yard QB counterparts (Brady and Brees) are also free agents in 2020.

But an offseason move for Winston would create NFL history in itself. If Winston manages to find a new home this year, he’ll be the first quarterback in the history of the NFL to hit the 5K passing milestone and then play for another team. 

Teams can officially start negotiating with free agents on March 16, 2020, and Winston is undoubtedly on top of the Buccaneers’ to-do list. Will Winston be returning to his second year of head coach Bruce Arians’ offense? Or will he be packing his bags? Check back in with Pro Football Network every week for continued coverage of the 2020 NFL free agency and the upcoming draft.