The NFL free agency period has been incredibly busy. According to Jordan Schultz of Bleacher Report, the Cleveland Browns jumped in on Tuesday and are close to concluding a deal with former New Orleans Saints quarterback Jameis Winston.
‘BREAKING: The #Browns are close to signing free agent quarterback Jameis Winston to a one-year contract worth up to $8.7 million, according to sources. Winston had attention from several teams and opted this morning to go to Cleveland.
Winston was also pursued by the New York Giants and Tennessee Titans, but he chose Cleveland to serve as Deshaun Watson’s backup quarterback.
The former No. 1 overall choice in the 2015 NFL Draft spent the first five seasons as the starter for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers before moving to New Orleans. He appeared in just 21 games with the Saints over four seasons and was most recently the backup to Derek Carr after being acquired via trade last summer.
The Browns emerged as a team interested in Winston and offered him a reasonable one-year contract of $8.7 million, which is solid money for a backup quarterback. Watson is currently rehabbing from a season-ending shoulder injury, but he appears to be ready for training camp. If not, Winston will be a more than capable candidate for the role.
Winston passed for 264 yards, two touchdowns, and three interceptions in seven games and will play only three games in 2022. Nonetheless, the former No. 1 overall pick has joined Watson and the Browns, who also acquired Jerry Jeudy in a deal with the Denver Broncos.
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