Jameis Winston Might Be The Best Backup Quarterback In The NFL

The Browns found the perfect fit behind Deshaun Watson and perhaps the best of the backup quarterbacks across the league.

Jameis Winston (Photo - Matt Starkey/Cleveland Browns)

The 2023-24 Cleveland Browns season showed the importance of having a capable backup quarterback. After Deshaun Watson’s season was ended by a right shoulder injury, the offense was led by rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson, P.J. Walker, Joe Flacco, and Jeff Driskel. 

When speaking about the importance of the backup quarterback position, Head Coach Kevin Stefanski stated, “That backup position, we’ve all seen it over the years. Certainly, we’ve seen it, but just in my time, it’s an important position. You don’t get a ton of reps. You have to be ready to roll at a moment’s notice. But you can have a great impact on the football team, both on the field and off the field. So, I’ve seen some great ones. I don’t think it’s a mistake when you see a lot of coaches come from that backup quarterback position. It’s kind of like backup catchers and point guards and those type of things. It’s a cerebral position where I think you get a lot of guys that understand all the nuances of this game.”

The NFL saw 68 different quarterbacks start a game in 2022 and then followed it up with 66 different quarterbacks in 2023. The reality is, more often than not, you will need a backup quarterback in some fashion.

So, why not invest in the right one? Needless to say, the Browns needed an insurance policy at quarterback for the upcoming season and Jameis Winston is that guy. Speaking specifically about the veteran, Stefanski had the following to say: