The Cleveland Browns added to their quarterback room this week, signing Jameis Winston to a one-year deal.

The addition of Winston gives the Browns another backup and more depth behind former Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson, who is working his way back from season-ending shoulder surgery in 2023.

After spending the last four seasons with the New Orleans Saints primarily as a backup, appearing in 21 total games with 10 starts, Winston hit the free agent market this offseason and had wanted to be a starter somewhere.

While it didn’t work out that way for Winston, he’s nonetheless heading to Cleveland planning on being a source of encouragement for Watson and someone for him to lean on.

“The most important thing, I believe, is the relationship between me and Deshaun is in a place where it will continue to grow and flourish,” Winston told reporters this week. “I just admire him as a person and, definitely, as a football player. I look forward to allowing him to lean on me for anything that he needs. And also encouraging him and providing him with different resources that he probably hasn’t gotten from people who have been in the same room as him.”

Drafted first overall out of Florida State in 2015 by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Winston has completed 61.2 percent of his passes for 22,104 yards and 141 touchdowns across 93 career games (80 starts) with the Buccaneers (2015-19) and Saints (2020-23).

Prior to the season-ending injury in 2023, Watson completed 61.4 percent of his passes for 1,115 yards and seven touchdowns with four interceptions across six starts for the Browns. He also made six starts for the Browns in 2022 after returning from suspension, and is now entering his third season in Cleveland.

The three-time Pro Bowler has passed for 16,756 yards and 118 touchdowns in 66 career games (65 starts) with the Browns and Texans (2017-20) since being taken by Houston in the first round (12th overall) of the 2017 draft.

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