Quarterback Jameis Winston is set to transfer to the New Orleans Saints. It would be a win-win situation for all sides.

Jameis Winston saw the free man immediately. One more quick look, one well-aimed throw, and Marcus Williams is unstoppable on his way to the end zone.

Touchdown New Orleans Saints.

It was Winston’s fourth interception in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ 17-34 defeat by the Saints in week ten of last season.

Who has the damage…
The fact is, those who have the damage no longer have to make the mockery. And if you miss the ball very often, like Winston, you have to reckon with a disproportionately high number of being caught.

#Saints players have already caught 10 passes from Jameis Winston during his career, he also already threw TDs to some of them.pic.twitter.com/5L98jCKCMZ

— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) April 26, 2020

And with an imminent commitment by the Saints then live with such statistics: In five years in the NFL, Winston has thrown 10 interceptions against New Orleans. In nine games.

Which, with a total of 88 interceptions, an average of almost 18 per season, and 30 throws to opponents in 2019 alone, puts that figure into perspective.

Which then leads to the question: Why Winston?

Simple answer: Because it makes sense.

If you leave jokes like “He’s already had five years of experience throwing balls to the Saints” aside, the Saints are broad and strong in the quarterback position.

Legendary Drew Brees, who signed for two years and is no longer the youngest at 41. And just how important it is to have a man behind him who can harmonise with the offense right from the start was proven by Teddy Bridgewater in 2019 when he stepped in for the injured Brees and celebrated five wins in five games.

Bridgewater takes similar opportunity
His reward: a $66 million three-year contract with the Carolina Panthers. For him it was a similar opportunity as it is now for Winston, albeit from a different situation: the opportunity to be there when it counts, to get his career back on track.

Bridgewater’s career had been slowed down by a serious injury and Winston was dumped by the Buccaneers for sporting reasons. His replacement is none other than Tom Brady, but the free agent market has been difficult ever since. On the one hand due to the corona crisis, as he cannot meet with teams.

But of course also because the teams know his record. And his salary demand, which in December was supposedly more than 30 million dollars. Combined with his sometimes difficult character outside the court, there was no room for him, not even as a backup.

But one thing you tend to forget with Winston: Yes, he threw 30 interceptions, but also 33 touchdowns, the second most in the league behind MVP Lamar Jackson (36). Winston’s 5109 passing yards were actually the most quarterbacks of all.

But with his quarterback rating of 84.3, he only occupies one place in the back third of the league, as well as in the number of fumbles (12, a total of 50 in five years) or in the overall balance (28-42, no playoffs).

Boom or Bust
And so it continues cheerfully: some statistics are dominated by him, others reveal the problem: The man has undoubted strengths, but also extreme weaknesses. With him there is often only black or white, love or hate, hero or zero, boom or bust.

But Winston is also only 26.

And he’s a different guy than Taysom Hill, for whom the Saints have extended the contract by two years, for 21 million dollars.

But the “Swiss Army Knife” is just that: an all-purpose weapon that can be used in a variety of ways and is intended to provide moments of surprise. Despite all the euphoria about his versatility: he has thrown 13 passes in three years.

No question: If, as reported, there is a one-year contract for Winston, the risk is greatly reduced. Winston will get the chance for a second chance in the NFL.

Low risk
The Saints have a back-up who can jump in from a position that Bridgewater has seen for himself what a few deployments can mean for his own career. In parallel, Hill can also develop as a Brees replacement.

Plus the chance for Winston to mature into a franchise quarterback. Behind a legend like Brees.

…who throws interceptions… But in the same time frame as Winston, only 43.