Saints landed Jameis Winston, now they need to set him up for success
The New Orleans Saints have been linked to several different quarterbacks this offseason but it always felt like Jameis Winston would be the starting quarterback in the Big Easy. Now it’s official, as the team agreed to a two-year deal with Winston. The contract is worth $28 million with $21 million guaranteed.
This always felt like the move the Saints were going to make and it’s good to see it finally happen. The team can stop searching in free agency for a quarterback and turn their attention to other needs.
That’s where this post comes into play.
The #Saints are re-signing QB Jameis Winston to a two-year deal with a base value of $28 million, including $21M guaranteed, sources tell me and @RapSheet.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) March 21, 2022
So after missing out on Deshaun Watson, New Orleans turns to an old friend at QB.
Saints have to set Jameis Winston up to succeed
When Winston signed with the team in 2020, it was to be a backup behind Drew Brees. In 2021, he won the starting job over Taysom Hill but the wide receivers he had to work with were nothing to write home about.
That can’t be the case this time around.
It’s a good start that Michael Thomas is set to return after missing all of last year due to injury but that can’t be all the Saints hang their hats on. They got into trouble relying on Thomas to be their only guy in 2021 and it came back to bite them in a major way.
Winston has established chemistry with Marquez Callaway and Juwan Johnson but the team needs to continue giving him weapons. They need to address the wide receiver issue in the draft, whether it’s grabbing someone like Chris Olave or Garrett Wilson in the first round or getting Jahan Dotson or Christian Watkins in the second round.
The Saints also have to make sure the offensive line is capable of protecting Winston. It wasn’t their fault that Cesar Ruiz was the only starting o-lineman that remained healthy in 2021 but they need to find a suitable replacement for Terron Armstead if he leaves and bring in competition at the two guard spots rather than letting Andrus Peat and Ruiz be handed those jobs.
Winston did well as a starter in 2021 before he was injured and there’s no reason to think that with some help on offense, he can’t put up even better numbers at the helm in 2022.
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The New Orleans Saints have to give Winston all of the tools to succeed.