After failing to get Deshaun Watson, the New Orleans Saints are giving Jameis Winston another chance and giving him a strong receiver lineup to work with. The 28-year-old needs to take advantage of the opportunity because his time as a starting quarterback could expire if he doesn’t.

New Orleans/Munich – 15 minutes into practice. Jameis Winston doesn’t care. The quarterback is still on the practice field – the only one.

Wide receiver Jarvis Landry, who is giving a media round at the same time, praises the passer: “Look, I don’t see anybody out here. This guy is the last one. That’s just the way he is. And that’s what you want in a player at that position. He’s a leader, man.”

Winston obviously knows what’s at stake for him in the 2022 season. True, it will be the eighth season he spends in the NFL. However, it could also be the season that determines his future.

When he tore his ACL in week eight of last season, his time as a starting quarterback could have already been over. Winston did have a career-best quarterback rating of 102.8 and wasn’t as mistake-prone as he had been in years past. Still, the Saints’ personnel planning at the playmaking position was geared toward a fresh start.

Saints wanted Watson and only then gave Winston a new contract

The franchise reportedly made an intensive effort to secure the services of Deshaun Watson. Only after he signed a contract with the Cleveland Browns did New Orleans extend Winston’s contract.

This makes the passer seem like a stopgap, but he’s getting paid well for it. He’ll collect a total of $28 million for the next two seasons, $21 million of which is guaranteed. It is remarkable that the Saints did not use the 2022 NFL Draft to sign the potential quarterback of tomorrow.

On the contrary, they used their first two picks in the first round to make a good case for Winston with wide receiver Chris Olave and offensive tackle Trevor Penning. To make that happen, they even traded away their first-round pick for the 2023 NFL Draft. In the process, this one is supposed to include some good quarterbacks.

Winston is “thrilled” with the Saints’ squad.

Thanks to the signing of Landry as well as Olave and the return of long-term injury Michael Thomas, Winston will have several top-notch pass receivers at his disposal for the 2022 season. “This team we’re building is electrifying. I’m totally excited about it. I’m excited about the opportunity I have here and I want to take advantage of it,” Winston said.

The passer puts on a very professional air and, unlike many other big-name NFL stars, attended OTAs and minicamps. He enjoyed finally being back around his teammates after the injury break: “I couldn’t wait to get back with the guys and do team activities and just work.”

“He really loves his teammates,” running back Mark Ingram II said. “I’m glad he’s our quarterback. He’s just a great guy, a great quarterback, a great leader and super talented. He still has a great arm and wants to continue to get better. That’s the mindset of a lot of guys here.”

Winston’s pass rate needs improvement

Winston should be aware that while he showed strong approaches last season and didn’t produce as many ball drops as he once did with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. But he also knows that he only completed 59 percent of his passes and therefore still has room for improvement. In the previous five seasons, his throwing rate was (slightly) better. This is what sparks his ambition.

“He worked his butt off this offseason,” praises offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael Jr. “He ran the plays well last season and knew what it took to win those games.”

Of note: New Orleans won five of the seven games Winston played last season. Still, Carmichael says, “Not everything was perfect. There were things that we’re all going to grow from.”

Winston is working on that. Even though practice is already over.