Jameis Winston's Best Career Path Is to Declare for 2015 NFL Draft

Jameis Winston’s college football career has been incredibly successful on the field, but controversy and turmoil behind the scenes have made it clear that his best option after this season is to enter the 2015 NFL draft.

Winston is a former Heisman Trophy winner and, as ESPN’s College GameDay pointed out on Twitter, is still undefeated as quarterback of the Florida State Seminoles:

During last year’s freshman season, Winston racked up 4,057 yards and 40 touchdowns through the air and another 219 yards and four touchdowns on the ground. His numbers in 2014 have been way down this season (just 15 touchdowns in six games), and Winston’s play has likely been affected by the off-field distractions that have followed him.

On top of a previous sexual assault investigation and a one-game suspension for a “profane and sexually explicit outburst,” according to ESPN.com's Jared Shanker, Winston is currently being investigated by the school’s compliance department regarding possible payments for autographs, via ESPN.com.

The original report from Darren Rovell of ESPN.com claims one company alone has authenticated over 2,000 Winston signatures. Florida State is looking into claims that Winston received payment in return for signing memorabilia.

With everything going wrong off the field, Winston and the Seminoles must ride out the storm for the remainder of the season. It will be imperative that the quarterback keeps a low profile for the remainder of his time on campus, but that is something that has proved difficult in the past.

Not only will Winston have to keep playing at an elite level and win games on the field, but he will also have to contend with school work and the distractions from the university’s investigation. While he can likely pull it off for the remainder of the season, the jump to the NFL in 2015 would give him a clean slate moving forward.

As a young man growing up in the mainstream spotlight, the culture shock moving from college to the pros may be exactly what he needs.

Despite the adversity, Winston spoke with William C. Rhoden of The New York Times about his confidence and the tenacity of the entire Florida State program:

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One thing we are consistently proving is that we are winners. And no matter what type of adversity we may face, we are family here at Florida State, and we play hard. The one thing people need to realize about the Seminoles team is when we’ve got our backs against the wall, we always rise.

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Instead of being the king of the campus, Winston would likely be drafted by a team looking for a franchise quarterback. With an entire organization depending on his play, the immaturity issues would be addressed immediately by the veterans on the roster.

Bleacher Report’s Matt Miller talked about a possible landing spot for Winston:

While Winston has struggled with accepting advice in the past (just ask Bo Jackson), he would have no choice but to adapt to the NFL mentality and adopt the work ethic demanded of a quarterback in the league. The pressure on players at the top level is incredible, and any organization that drafts Winston would expect elite play fairly quickly.

The NFL is about what a player does on the field first and foremost, but the off-field expectations are just as high. The franchise that adds Winston to the roster will understand his issues and have a plan in place to correct them. If a team is willing to spend a high draft pick on him, the organization will absolutely have a plan to minimize his ability to make mistakes off the field.

Another year at Florida State would allow him to pad his stats and enjoy campus life again, but he needs a change of scenery that will force him out of his comfort zone. With Winston vulnerable, he will lean on his NFL teammates, and the hope is that he matures with their guidance.

It’s also worth noting that staying in school may hurt his stock even more. High-profile college stars like Tim Tebow and Matt Leinart exposed themselves to criticism and injuries by staying in college too long, and Winston and his camp should understand the risk associated with sticking around for his junior season.

Winston has an incredible amount of raw talent but needs to show the maturity necessary to carry a franchise at the next level. A team will take the educated risk on Winston, but it will ultimately be up to him to take full advantage of the opportunity.

*Stats via ESPN.com.

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