Despite being relegated to a reserve role in recent years, quarterback Jameis Winston returned to the spotlight in 2024, his 10th season in the NFL. With the Cleveland Browns unable to find answers under center after starter Deshaun Watson's struggles and, ultimately, his torn Achilles tendon injury, Winston was pressed into action and wound up making seven starts.
The Browns were just 2-5 in those starts, and he threw for 2,121 yards in 12 appearances, posting a rating of just 80.6. But he put up some big-time stats in his time running the show, including a 497-yard game in a loss to the Broncos and a 395-yard game in a loss to his old team, the Saints.
Cleveland eventually moved to third-stringer Dorian Thompson-Robinson to close the year.
At age 31, Winston said he still feels he can be a starter in the NFL. Appearing on "The Pat McAfee Show" on Friday, he said, "I know I'm one of the best 32 quarterbacks in this world and nobody can take that away from me."
He continued on by saying he just wants to win, in the end.
"I do what's required," Winston said. "And what I want for myself, I want for everyone. ... I just wanna win. That's all I want. It's not the stardom, it's not the fame. Obviously, I want to be the team's quarterback. Because I think it is required for me, I want to feel that. But I just want to win. Any way I can help, any way I can serve, anything I can do to play more consistently, to win, I'mma do that."
Winston is a free agent this year, having signed a one-year deal with Cleveland for $4 million last season. He is projected to be worth a two-year, $12 million deal as a high-end backup next season, via Spotrac.
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