The Tampa Bay Buccaneers confirmed Monday what had been long suspected: Jameis Winston will become a free agent.
The Bucs opted to use their franchise tag on pass rusher extraordinaire Shaquil Barrett, which means Winston is out the door and free to negotiate with any team as soon as the NFL’s free agency period opens.
Barrett is certainly a worthwhile franchise tag — he had a league-leading 19.5 sacks last season — but the decision to leave Winston’s future up to the whims of free agency still puts Tampa Bay in a precarious spot. Yes, Winston threw 30 interceptions last season, and his maddening inconsistency has frustrated Tampa Bay coaches and fans alike.