Jameis Winston to the Miami Dolphins
Somehow, amidst an epic tank project in 2019, the Miami Dolphins managed to win five games.
Jameis Winston, even coming off of an epic 30-interception season, is a high-upside player at the age of 26 whose best days are hopefully still ahead of him.
Are the Dolphins sold on selling part of their draft this year and next year for Tua Tagovailoa?
I’m not so sure. I’m also not so sure the Dolphins don’t just flat out prefer Justin Herbert.
The Dolphins and Winston could perhaps benefit from a year with each other. Right now, Miami is hovering around $88 million in 2020 cap space. If they were to sign Winston, it would give them flexibility in the 2020 NFL Draft to really decide if they want to go with a quarterback at five or wait until later in the first round.
Winston needs to rehab his image around the league, and the Dolphins seem to have the culture and infrastructure in place to help him do that. They may not have all the pieces right now on offense, but this team is going to look drastically different after 2020 free agency and the 2020 NFL Draft.
Miami could take a one-year shot on Winston as a bridge quarterback and if Winston does well, the Dolphins could choose to keep him, tag and trade him, or recoup a high compensatory pick in the 2022 NFL Draft if he leaves as a free agent.
They could also sign him, audition him, and trade him for 2021 draft capital similar to the way the Eagles traded Sam Bradford shortly after drafting Carson Wentz.
This marriage may seem odd at first, but the Dolphins have the money available to potentially make it work and potentially reel in some draft assets from it.