Winston, not the popular veteran Flacco, signs on as Watson’s backup
The Browns have their backup quarterback. It’s just not the backup quarterback many went into free agency expecting them to end up signing.
Former No. 1 overall pick Jameis Winston and the Browns agreed on a oneyear deal worth up to $8.7 million on Tuesday.
“Yes, I still envision myself as a starter, however the Lord has also called me to lead by impacting and increasing the men who are around me,” Winston told CBSSports’ Josina Anderson, via Anderson’s X (formerly Twitter) page. “Having the opportunity to work with Deshaun (Watson) and help him be the best he can possibly be, is my main mission. Now, if Deshaun has to heal up for whatever reason, and I have to take a few games off of him, I’m going to be ready to do that; but I have to fulfill God’s purpose first before my own heart’s desire. Because ultimately I desire to win some Super Bowls, and this roster that Cleveland got, looks like they can do it.”
Word of the Browns’ interest in the 30-year-old Winston first emerged Monday night, shortly after one potential option — Jacoby Brissett — signed with the New England Patriots. Brissett was among a handful of potential targets that also included other former Browns, specifically the popular Joe Flacco.
Winston, according to a league source, was seen as a younger option who better fit the Browns’ scheme this season. This offseason, they hired Ken Dorsey as offensive coordinator with the objective to better tailor a scheme to maximize starter Deshaun Watson’s multi-faceted skillset.
Dorsey previously worked during his NFL coaching career with Cam Newton in Carolina and Josh Allen in Buffalo. Size and skillset wise, both are similar to the 6-foot-4, 231-pound Winston, who has shown a strong arm, mobility and, at their worst, a propensity for interceptions.
Winston will be entering his 10th NFL season since the Tampa Bay Buccaneers made him the No. 1 overall pick in the 2015 draft out of Florida State University. He’s spent the last four seasons with the New Orleans Saints, where he was more backup than starter, with 10 starts in 21 appearances.
Over 93 career games, including 80 starts, Winston has completed 61.2% of his passes for 22,104 yards with 141 touchdowns and 99 interceptions. He famously had a season in 2019 with Tampa Bay where he led the league in attempts (626), passing yards (5,109), interceptions (30) and yards per game (319.3), while his 33 touchdown passes were second in the league.
Winston has essentially been a backup since leaving Tampa Bay for New Orleans, although that wasn’t always the case. He initially sat behind Drew Brees in his first season with the Saints in 2020 before opening the 2021 season as their starter.
After starting the first seven games of the 2021 season, Winston suffered a season-ending anterior cruciate ligament tear. He returned in 2022 to start the first three games, but a back injury led to him missing time, and he eventually lost the job to Andy Dalton.
Winston backed up Derek Carr this past season. He did appear in seven games, including significant action in losses to the Green Bay Packers (10 of 16, 101 yards) and Minnesota Vikings (13 of 25, 122 yards, two touchdowns, two interceptions).
Browns sign former Bills running back
The Browns have been looking for the ideal return man. They may have just found him, assuming he can return to his pre-injury form.
Former Buffalo Bills running back/return man Nyheim Hines has agreed to a one-year deal worth up to $3.5 million with the Browns.
Hines missed all of this past season after suffering a torn ACL after getting hit while riding a jet ski last July. The Bills released him earlier this month.
When healthy, Hines has been outstanding returning kicks an punts. He’s averaged 25.5 yards on 32 career kickoff returns, and 11.4 on 89 career punt returns, with two touchdowns each.
Hines also worked with Browns special teams coordinator Bubba Ventrone while he played in Indianapolis from 2018 until he was traded to the Bills during the 2022 season. While with the Colts, he averaged 11.8 yards on 73 punt returns and 20.2 yards on 13 kick returns.
The 27-year-old former fourth-round pick also has been a multi-faceted offensive option. Hines has 240 career catches for 1,778 yards and eight touchdowns, while also carrying it 306 times for 1,202 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Hines spent half a season playing under Dorsey while Dorsey was offensive coordinator with the Bills. However, he was used much more in the return game than on offense, with just 11 total touches in nine regular-season games.
Hines’ best season may have been 2020 with the Colts, when he had career highs in catches (63), receiving yards (482), receiving touchdowns (four), rushing attempts (89), rushing yards (380) and rushing touchdowns (three).