The New Orleans Saints won't be looking for a backup quarterback after all.
Despite the signing of Derek Carr last week, last year's starter, Jameis Winston will be sticking around on a reduced contract to serve as the backup, according to multiple reports. Josina Anderson reported the news first.
It's a bit of a surprise for the 29-year-old, who went into each of the past two seasons as the starting quarterback, but suffered injuries that ultimately ended each season. Winston started the first three games of the 2022 season but suffered significant back and foot injuries. Backup Andy Dalton took over in a Week 4 loss to the Minnesota Vikings in London and ultimately started the Saints' final 14 games.
Winston was reportedly offered the deal with the option to remain, or be cut when the new league year began on Wednesday.
The deal has a maximum value of $8 million, according to a report from the NFL Network's Ian Rapaport, and will offer some cap relief for the Saints, who reached cap compliance ahead of the trade deadline with reported restructures of DE Cam Jordan, CB Marshon Lattimore and RB Alvin Kamara. The deal also means the Saints retain a high-quality backup who knows the system. Winston was set to make $12.8 million in the second-year of a contract he signed prior to the 2022 season.
Winston has started 10 games for the Saints since arriving in New Orleans for the 2020 season, with a record of 6-4. In those games he's thrown for 2,103 yards and 18 touchdowns against 8 interceptions.
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Ultimately it was a day of departures for New Orleans with the legal tampering period kicking off. DT David Onyemata and LB Kaden Elliss have both reportedly signed deals with the Atlanta Falcons, while DT Shy Tuttle is headed to the Carolina Panthers, and DE Marcus Davenport is reportedly joining the Minnesota Vikings. Thus far the Saints, along with Carr, have re-signed special teams ace JT Gray, TE Juwan Johnson, DE Tanoh Kpassagnon, WR Keith Kirkwood and G Calvin Throckmorton.
Free agent contracts will not become official until the first day of the new league year on March 15.
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