Tom Pellisero and Ian Rapoport of the NFL report that the New Orleans Saints are re-signing quarterback James Winston to a two-year, $28 million contract with $21 million guarantees.
The free agency The signing comes on the heels of the Saints failing in their attempt to trade Deshaun Watson, the Houston Texans quarterback. Texas Friday agreed to trade Watson to the Cleveland Browns, who, along with the Saints, Carolina Panthers and Atlanta Falcons, offered trade packages to Houston.
Winston returns to New Orleans for a third consecutive season after five years with rival NFC South Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who drafted him #1 overall in 2015.
Possessing a live arm but prone to transitions, Winston joined the Saints as a backup for Drew Brees in 2020. In 2021, he returned to succeed Brees and beat Taysom Hill for the QB1 spot. Through seven starts with Winston, the Saints were 5-2. Even though Winston wasn’t lighting up the scoreboard, he limited his turnover. He threw for 1,170 yards and 14 touchdowns for only three interceptions in those seven games.
Sadly, his season ended with a ruptured ACL in Week 8. After that, Hill, Trevor Simian and rookie Ian Bock started for the Saints.
Winston Back to running On his way to recovering from a ruptured ACL, and with the Saints failing to pursue Watson, he will return to New Orleans.
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