Ranking Saints' toughest offseason departures: No. 2, Jameis Winston

Jameis Winston may not have played a meaningful down for the New Orleans Saints had he stayed, but his departure for the Cleveland Browns is still heavily felt.

Winston was the Saints’ backup quarterback and one of the better backups in the NFL. He stepped in for Derek Carr on two occasions in 2023, but he didn’t start any games. Saints fans have enough familiarity with backup quarterbacks to know the value of the position.

Go look at how Winston’s backups performed in 2021 and how Teddy Bridgewater performed when filling in for Drew Brees. Drastically different products that yielded drastically different results.

Winston is replaced by Jake Haener or Spencer Rattler. A training camp battle between the two will decide who fills that role. It’s hard to feel as confident with two unproven players at backup instead of a former Pro Bowl quarterback.

Boiling Winston’s impact down to what he did on the field is inadequate. It’s not even his biggest contribution to the team. Winston’s role took a step back last season, but he continued to galvanize the team. Leading the charge to get Jamaal Williams a touchdown in the season finale is one of the best examples of this.

Winston has always had a strong personality. It endeared him to his teammates and the fans. Locker room vibes are highlighted with post-game parties, but they can have an impact on team morale. Winston was a player who kept the vibes and morale high. They’ll have to replace that as well in 2024.