NEW ORLEANS — Saints backup quarterback Jameis Winston is apparently heading to Cleveland to become the backup to DeShaun Watson on a one-year $8.7 million deal, according to Jordan Schultz of Bleacher Report.
Winston, who started his career in Tampa where he had mixed success, became a backup quarterback for the Saints four seasons ago.
He backed up Drew Brees for a season and was the heir apparent before being injured 7 games into the 2021 season, one in which he threw 14 touchdowns and only 3 interceptions. The Saints started out 5-2 with Winston under center before he was injured in week 7. The team promptly lost its next five games and did not make the playoffs.
Winston became a fan favorite, at least off the field, but he struggled to get playing time, especially after the Saints signed Derek Carr prior to the 2023 season.
Winston did not start a game for the Saints in '23 and appeared mostly in mop-up roles, including a controversial late-game touchdown call against the Carolina Panthers where the team was supposed to take a knee and run out the clock, but Winston called a running play that went for a touchdown.