After spending 2023 with NFC South foes, Jameis Winston showed the utmost regard for his fellow quarterback Baker Mayfield.
Winston, who played quarterback for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 2015 to 2019, recently signed with the Cleveland Browns. That is where Mayfield began his career in 2018, after the Browns selected him first in the draft.
Last season, Mayfield resurrected his career in Tampa, while Winston finished his stint as a backup with the New Orleans Saints. Winston witnessed Mayfield’s resurgence as the Buccaneers swept the Saints in 2023.
“He is a beast, man,” Winston told Theo Von on the “This Past Weekend” podcast on Tuesday. “There are countless stories like that, guy. So many stories. You hear of folks pushing through. You will come out the other side.”
The Browns traded Mayfield to the Carolina Panthers in 2022, but the former Oklahoma star’s move did not work out. After going 1-5 in December 2022, the Panthers released Mayfield.
July 2022: Browns trade Baker Mayfield to Panthers
Dec 2022: Panthers release Mayfield, Rams claim him
March 2023: Mayfield becomes free agent; signs with Bucs
Dec 2023: Mayfield has 24 Pass TD/8 INT for 1st place Bucs pic.twitter.com/Et0KA7SjNa
— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) December 18, 2023
He found new footing with the Los Angeles Rams, where he went 1-3 and completed 63.6% of his throws for 850 yards, four touchdowns, and two interceptions. Mayfield signed with the Buccaneers in March 2023, following Tom Brady’s retirement.
Mayfield guided the Buccaneers to a 9-8 record, NFC South championship, and NFC Divisional Round berth. He completed 64.3% of his passes, totaling 4,044 yards and 28 touchdowns with 10 interceptions.
Baker Mayfield, Jameis Winston Have Polar Opposite Starts in Tampa
Mayfield’s success in Tampa earned him the largest contract of his career: a three-year, $100 million agreement. He intends to continue building on what he started in Tampa after re-signing in March.
“So that’s the goal here is to try and win a couple [Super Bowls],” Mayfield told reporters on March 13.
Things did not go as planned for Winston, the Buccaneers’ first-round pick in 2015. Winston never led Tampa Bay to the playoffs, prompting his free agency departure and Brady’s free agency arrival in 2020.
That’s despite Winston’s monstrous records, including three seasons of more than 4,000 yards and a 33-touchdown season in 2019.
He was prone to turnovers throughout his career, with 14 or more interceptions in three of his first four seasons, and Winston’s 30-interception season in 2019 threw him into a tailspin.
Jameis Winston Still Rebuilding NFL Career
🚨 JAMEIS WINSTON TD 🚨
(via @NFL)pic.twitter.com/fKVepUshCx
— ESPN (@espn) January 18, 2021
In 2022, Winston saw time as he completed 63.5% of his throws for 858 yards and four touchdowns against five interceptions as injury struck again. New Orleans then signed Derek Carr in 2023, keeping Winston on the sideline.
Winston now intends to capitalize on his opportunity in Cleveland behind DeShaun Watson, the quarterback the Browns traded for prior to Mayfield’s departure.
“The most essential thing, I believe, is that my relationship with Deshaun is one that will continue to grow and bloom. Winston told Von, “I just admire him as a person and as a football player.”
“I look forward to allowing him to lean on me for everything that he needs, as well as encouraging him and providing him with resources that he may not have gotten for individuals in the same room as him… Winston continued, “I’m just serving him and this team the best way I can.”
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