All the buzz for the Saints this offseason has surrounded QBs that aren't currently on the roster, but there is one player under contract that sure sounds like he intends to return.
Speaking to the broadcast crew at the HBCU Legacy game this past weekend at Tulane's Yulman Stadium, where he served as an honorary captain along with former Saints Terron Armstead, Jameis Winston was quick to correct NFL Network reporter Steve Wyche as he posed a question about Winston's plans for free agency.
“Technically I’m not a free agent just yet," he said. "I’ve got one more year under contract, but man, my main thing right is making sure I stay healthy and be ready to play. Like, that’s the only thing on my mind. I’ve got to be ready to play, because I know, when given the opportunity, I’m going to be looking forward to taking advantage of it.”
It was an intriguing way to answer a question amid the Saints actively courting free agent QB Derek Carr, who is currently establishing a market after vetoing any potential trade. It's not dissimilar to what happened last year when the Saints went hard after Deshaun Watson before re-signing Winston when the Browns landed the former Texans QB in trade. Winston went into the season as the unquestioned starter, but suffered a back injury during a Week 1 win over the Falcons, followed by a significant foot injury in Week 2. He played hurt in Week 3 before taking a step back to get healthy with backup Andy Dalton starting a Week 4 showdown against the Vikings in London.
In response to a question posed by CBS analyst Charles Davis, Winston confirmed he was playing through injuries during those three weeks, but wouldn't use that as an excuse.
"The film doesn’t lie, and the film … it doesn’t say [you were hurt]," Winston said.
That Week 3 loss to the Panthers was the last time Winston got on the field for the Saints in a 2022 season that ended at 7-10, buoyed by a three-game winning streak late in the season. Head coach Dennis Allen declared that Dalton had officially bypass Winston on the depth chart prior to a Week xx shutout victory over the Raiders, and opted not to shift back to Winston at any point and despite significant offensive struggles as the season wore on.
Winston embraced the backup role with his signature enthusiasm, but did express his frustration in an interview later in the season when he indicated that he was told he wouldn't lose his job due to injury.
But fast-forward to the offseason, and it's only Winston under contract as free agency approaches. Winston is due $12.8 million in he second and final year of his contract, a portion of which could be saved if the team opts to part ways with him.
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Still, he's given no indication that he's looking forward to anywhere but New Orleans next season.
"After the season, the biggest thing is mentally and emotionally," Winston said in an interview with WDSU. "So you just got to make sure that you’re right up top.”
If Winston does return, he'll again be working with QBs coach Ronald Curry, who will be sticking in New Orleans despite landing interviews for the OC job with both the Bucs and Broncos.
"I look forward to working with Jameis and Andy and the guys we got [in New Orleans]," Curry said when he spoke to the media following a practice at the Senior Bowl, where he served as the OC for the National Team.
NFL free agency begins March 15. Along with Winston and Carr, other QB options for 2023 could be re-signing Dalton, bringing in a veteran free agent like Jimmy Garoppolo, possibly trading for a player such as young Patriots QB Mac Jones and Packers star Aaron Rodgers, or possibly looking to the draft if a young QB catches their eye.
That latter option could become clear this week with the annual NFL Scouting Combine being held in Indianapolis.
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