Should the Saints stick with Jameis Winston in 2023?

The New Orleans Saints are in an odd spot heading into the 2023 season. That is true for the entire NFC South division following the retirement of Tom Brady. Before that, it was a weird situation following the retirement of Drew Brees.

Brees' retirement seemed to pass the torch in New Orleans to Jameis Winston. The former No. 1 pick was booted from Tampa Bay following Brady's arrival and sat behind Brees in 2020, getting a year to recharge and study up.

Winston got off to a 5-2 start in 2021, appearing to be a perfect replacement. Unfortunately, a season-ending injury stopped all of that momentum in its tracks. Andy Dalton was brought in last season, and Winston made only three starts.

So what happens next? Should the Saints give him another shot in 2023?

The Saints may be stuck with Winston for one more season

2023 NFL Pro Bowl Games

Fans must remember that Winston is not yet a free agent. He signed a two-year deal last offseason and carries a dead cap hit of just over $11 million this season. If the Saints designate him as a post-June 1 release, the cap hit gets spread out over the next two years but saves the team $12.8 million this year.

The potential savings are intriguing, yet the situation is tricky because the team is currently in quarterback limbo. With a competent quarterback play, the Saints should be able to win the division, given the rebuilding nature of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Carolina Panthers, and Atlanta Falcons.

At this point, one high-profile option is still available, and that is Derek Carr. The long-time Las Vegas Raiders signal-caller is a free agent who is taking his time visiting teams, including the Saints. However, the New York Jets appear to be serious suitors as well.

Carr appears to be a clear upgrade over Winston, so if the team can land him, it makes sense to go for it. Even if Carr is added, Winston can stay as an expensive backup for one more season. That beats having a less experienced option at backup who can't carry the team if Carr gets injured. The backup market is also going up, so having a player on an expiring deal may not be the worst option.

It is tough to evaluate Winston's 2022 season because he was returning from an injury and was in a backup mindset on a struggling team. Looking at his four touchdowns and five interceptions may not tell the whole story, given his situation.

Can he be a viable starter for the Saints in 2023? Yes, that appears to be the case, especially in such a weak division where multiple quarterbacks without much experience may start in 2023. But is he good enough for New Orleans not to go after outside help, such as Carr? No, and that is nothing for fans to worry about. This team appears to be in the best shape of any group in the NFC South.

This story would be much different if Winston were a free agent. But since he is under contract, bringing him back as the starter or a high-profile backup to Carr makes sense. NFL fans have seen teams get creative with the salary cap, so keeping Winston and moving money around should be possible. That is true whether Carr is signed or not.