Jameis Winston will likely go pro after the season. ( Melina Vastola-USA TODAY Sports)
Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston will enter the 2015 NFL Draft, largely due to a growing divide between the two-sport star and the university, according to CBS Sports NFL insider Jason La Canfora.
NFLDraftScout.com ranks Winston fourth overall among potential draft prospects for 2015, and second to Oregon’s Marcus Mariota at quarterback.
If Winston, who said in August he planned to play “at least two” more seasons with the Seminoles after winning the Heisman Trophy national title as a freshman last season, turns pro, he will be coveted. But most NFL scouts understand the buyer-beware tag that comes with Winston.
His skill-set says top-10 pick, and his ability was on display in Saturday’s primetime comeback victory over Notre Dame.
But repeated off-field infractions have caused doubt in the public eye and the NFL scouting community about his future. Is it immaturity or ingenious arrogance? That’s the polarizing question NFL teams will hope to figure out between now and April 2015.
On the field, Winston is a natural.
He has the requisite physical skills with his size, arm strength and athleticism along with the mental process as a passer to pick apart defenses. His anticipation, instincts and chemistry with his targets come easy to him and it’s something that scouts search for within quarterback prospects.
Winston has a rare combination of skills, and that is the main reason he has the makings of a top-10 selection or even No. 1 overall pick.
As with any prospect — and perhaps moreso quarterbacks who are paid to be and expected to serve as the face of the organization — off-field blunders cannot be ignored and some teams won’t have him on their draft board because of those doubts.
Still, Winston’s on-field ability will cause a team to roll the dice, most likely in the top-10. He could help himself a great deal by laying low, staying out of trouble and not giving teams additional reasons to doubt Winston between now and the 2015 NFL Draft.
There are other quarterbacks in the draft who could trump Winston in the final pecking order.
Mariota and other underclassmen quarterback prospects are likely to join Winston in the 2015 draft class, giving NFL teams options.
Winston needs to do everything within his power to make sure he remains one of those options. And he does that by continuing to respond to adversity on the field and keeping out of trouble when away from football.
Winston will be drafted where he deserves to be drafted. And that ultimately will be left up to the Seminoles’ polarizing passer.
