Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston. Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston said Tuesday he wants to watch the 2015 NFL Draft with his family but is getting pressure to attend the event in Chicago.
Winston, regarded as the favorite to be the No. 1 overall pick by NFLDraftScout.com, said he specifically is concerned about not being with his grandmother, who has type-2 diabetes and is prohibited from traveling.
Winston did not elaborate on where pressure was coming from to attend the draft. Commissioner Roger Goodell said last week in Phoenix at the NFL Annual Spring Meeting that the league would appreciate his decision either way, noting there is no mandate for Winston to be in Chicago for the first round on April 30 at Auditorium Theater at Roosevelt University.
The last No. 1 overall pick not to attend the draft was Ohio State defensive tackle Dan Wilkinson in 1994.
Winston’s family shook hands and embraced Buccaneers head coach Lovie Smith, who acknowledged in Phoenix that Winston was the leader in the clubhouse to be the No. 1 overall pick. Smith was one of several head coaches and dozens of NFL personnel on hand in Tallahassee on Tuesday, when Winston’s 102-throw scripted passing session served as the main event for Florida State’s campus workout.
“There’s something about being here in person, seeing him between throws, seeing him before the workout. He had to wait four hours, and he was just Jameis,” said Smith, who was accompanied by general manager Jason Licht and multiple coaches. NFLDraftScout.com analyst Rob Rang said Winston did enough to seal up the top spot in the draft. Grading of workouts “against air” is common, though one of the more ridiculed quarterback sessions in recent years was at Louisville last season. Teddy Bridgewater was bombed by media for his erratic passing, then was drafted 32nd overall and had a good rookie season with the Minnesota Vikings.
“He makes guys around him better and I think he did that today,” Licht said.
