Michael Vick Calls Florida State's Jameis Winston 'The Future of the NFL'

When he was selected No. 1 overall in 2001, current New York Jets quarterback Michael Vick was expected to be the NFL's next star. Vick was drafted when he was just 20 years old, so he can understand what Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston will be going through more than almost anyone.

Winston is expected to be one of the first quarterbacks taken in the 2015 NFL draft, but off-field incidents and questions about his behavior have had some wondering whether or not he can take the next step at the professional level. However, according to Darryl Slater of NJ.com, Vick believes Winston will become a star in the NFL, saying:

"

I think he's a great player. I've been around so long, I appreciate guys coming out of college. I look forward to watching him. I have high expectations for him. I think he, over time, has made some poor decisions. Have I been there to know exactly what happened? No.

But I do know one thing: He may make some poor decisions, but he gets on that football field and he plays his ass off. Yeah, he can mature. He'll mature. I see him maturing as time goes on. Like, this year hasn't been as bad of a year as the first year was for Jameis. I think the kid will continue to improve. I think he's the future of the NFL.

"

Winston is still a very young player, one who will be turning just 21 years old on January 6. Because of Winston's age, Vick feels the former Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback will need some veteran leaders already established in the locker room to help him mature, especially if he has to play in a big market like New York, according to Slater:

"

I think it's hard. I think his support cast just has to be around him. You can't put him in a room with a group of young guys. The more veterans around, the more he'll pick up on things and he'll mature quickly. That's the trend I've been around since I've been in the league.

"

For now, Winston is still focused on leading the Seminoles to a second straight national title, but once he enters the NFL, he'd be smart to listen to a player like Vick, who took a similar path out of college.

[NJ.com]