Phil Sears-USA TODAY Sports
There is a good chance the Tampa Bay Buccaneers select Florida State Seminoles quarterback Jameis Winston with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft. However, if the Buccaneers decide Oregon Ducks signal caller Marcus Mariota is the better option for their system, the Tennessee Titans have made it very clear they intend to find Winston a home with the No. 2 overall selection.
Even though Winston has shown exceptional football skills on the gridiron, his personal life is unbelievably questionable. For that reason, many believed he would not be a top pick in next week’s draft. The good news for him is he has convinced teams that he is smarter than he has let on with his actions outside of football, which means being selected in one of the top two picks is going to happen.
More specifically, the Titans are completely aware of the civil lawsuit against Winston involving a woman accusing him of sexual assault, and they still plan to draft him if he is available. The biggest reason for the organization’s confidence in him despite the looming lawsuit is because he made an outstanding impression while visiting the team last week.
In all honesty, it would be shocking if the Buccaneers passed on Winston. He is more than qualified to lead a team right away, even if his maturity needs some work. Obviously, Tampa Bay does not want a Johnny Manziel on their hands, especially if they are selecting Winston to be the face of the franchise going forward. Still, there is enough evidence to show he is worthy of the top draft selection.
Even if the Titans miss out on Winston, Mariota is certainly a solid consolation prize. In fact, Tennessee head coach Ken Whisenhunt has said to be impressed by Mariota’s knowledge of pass protections and run-blocking schemes, according to a league source.
Michael Terrill is a Senior Writer for Rant Sports. Follow him on Twitter @MichaelTerrill, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.
