14 March 2024 , 03:00
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Jameis Winston has made it clear he's not planning to just sit on the bench after joining the Cleveland Browns. He's been a backup for the New Orleans Saints for four years, but now he's moved on to a new NFL team.
The Saints didn't keep him, so he looked around and chose the Browns in free agency, even though they're only paying him $4 million this year. It looks like he'll be the second choice behind Deshaun Watson, who hasn't had the best time with the franchise.
Winston might get to play if Watson gets injured, but once he gets his chance, he doesn't want to stop being the starting quarterback. He's already made it clear thinks he can be the top guy and win big games.
After the season ended, Winston said he knew he wouldn't stay with the Saints. He wanted a team where he could be number one and go for Super Bowl as starter.
"My goal is to be, and my desire is to be, a Super Bowl-winning starting quarterback in this league," Winston shared. "Right now, that doesn't look like a very clear picture with the New Orleans Saints."
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Winston has scored an impressive 141 touchdowns compared to 99 interceptions as a starter, but he's had a tough time beating players like Drew Brees, Andy Dalton and Derek Carr for the top spot in recent years.
Jameis Winston has left the Saints and joined the Cleveland Browns (Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)His one-year deal will give him a signing bonus of $2.79 million (£2.1 million) and a minimum base salary of $1.21 million (£900,000). That's a lot less than Watson, who will earn a massive $46 million (£34 million) this season while having a record-breaking cap-hit of $63 million (£47 million).
This comes after Watson signed a five-year, $230 million (£171 million) contract which was fully guaranteed after he was traded from the Houston Texans. His deal is seen as one of the worst in NFL history at this point.
Watson was one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL during his time with the Texans, before not playing in the 2021 season then being traded away for a huge haul of draft picks. Last year, the Browns signed veteran Joe Flacco as a free agent, with him coming in and greatly improving the teams' offense and winning Comeback Player of the Year.