Jameis Winston Contract: Saints' QB Takes Massive Pay Cut With 2020 Salary

Jameis Winston has finally landed with a new team, signing a one-year deal with the New Orleans Saints. The No.1 overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft will take a massive pay cut for the 2020 season.

With a reported $952,000 base salary and a $148,000 signing bonus, Winston is only guaranteed to make $1.1 million if he spends the entire season in New Orleans. The quarterback can earn well over $3 million in incentives, but those marks will be very difficult to reach as a backup.

Jameis Winston’s one-year contract with the Saints carries a base value of $1.1M, per source. He got a $148,000 signing bonus, a base salary of $952,000 and $3.4M is available in incentives. Jameis prioritized the chance to learn and grow as a player.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) April 29, 2020

Jameis Winston’s one-year contract with the #Saints:

$148,000 signing bonus
$952,000 base salary
$1.76M playtime incentives
$1.8M playoff playtime incentives
$40,000 Pro Bowl incentive

Base $1.1M. Max $4.7M with incentives.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) April 29, 2020

Drew Brees is set to be the Saints’ starting quarterback for the 15th straight season. New Orleans recently gave Taysom Hill a two-year, $21 million contract. Hill will probably remain in his role as a triple-threat option to pass, run or receive but unlikely to start games under center.

Teddy Bridgewater started five games in 2019 when Brees was sidelined with a thumb injury. Winston is expected to fill that role next season.

Bridgewater made $7.25 million to back up Brees last year.

Winston led the NFL with 5,109 passing yards and 30 interceptions last season. He finished second with 33 passing touchdowns.

Winston is the only quarterback since the AFL-NFL merger in 1970 to change teams in the season after leading the league in passing. The 26-year-old had entered all five of his seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as the Week 1 starter.

Tampa Bay paid Winston $46.1 million over five years, including a $20.9 million salary in 2019. That put Winston just outside of the top-10 of highest-paid quarterbacks.

Thirty-one quarterbacks have an average annual salary of more than $5 million, per Spotrac, which Winston can’t reach with all of his incentives. If he only earns his $1.1 million salary, Winston will make less than the likes of Blaine Gabbert and DeShone Kizer.

Winston went 7-9 in 16 starts with the Bucs last season. He has a career 28-42 record with no playoff appearances.

New Orleans won the NFC South with a 13-3 record in 2019. Brees had the second-highest passer rating in the NFL.