Florida State QB Jameis Winston Made Right Call Declaring for 2015 NFL Draft

Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston's decision to go pro was long awaited—and, in the end, it was the right one. 

On Wednesday afternoon, the worst-kept secret in college football became official: Winston is declaring for the 2015 NFL draft. The announcement came after Winston's father told David M. Hale of ESPN.com that his son intends to forgo another two seasons at Florida State. 

Simply put, Winston is ready to take on the challenges of being an NFL player. He's been ready for a while, which is a great place to be; few people are that good, and therefore, that fortunate. According to ESPN draft analyst Todd McShay, Winston is the best player in the 2015 draft pool. 

The decision was undoubtedly a difficult one. As of Tuesday, Rand Getlin of Yahoo Sports reported that Winston was "seriously considering" staying in school.

"I reached this very difficult decision after careful consideration and long thought, realizing how difficult it would be to say goodbye to my family at Florida State," Winston said in a statement published by ESPN.com. "I am eternally grateful for the opportunity to wear the garnet and gold and have greatly enjoyed my time as a Seminole, both as an athlete and a student in the classroom."

However, there are several advantages to Winston declaring for the draft now that shouldn't be overlooked. 

The first, and most obvious, is money. Whether Winston is selected No. 1 overall or signed to a practice squad somewhere, he's going to receive something he didn't at Florida State: a salary. 

The question every college football player has to ask themselves when they become draft-eligible is whether they want to keep playing for free. Many don't, even the ones who aren't projected to be drafted high—if at all. As B/R's Adam Kramer wrote last January, going pro is one of the safest risks a college football player can make. 

Winston is different from many of those players, though, because he's all but officially guaranteed to sign a rookie deal. Even the most selfish Florida State fans who want to see Winston back for another season should have a hard time disagreeing with this decision. Winston's life is about to change forever. He'll be able to provide for himself and his family in a way he's never been able to before. 

Along the same lines, the sooner he enters the league, the closer he gets to the possibility of a second contract. Because of the NFL rookie-wage scale implemented in 2011, which gives first-year players a low, predetermined salary for up to four years, that's where the real money is made.  

There's also the ever-present injury risk. Winston could decide he's returning to school only to tear his ACL next August, forcing him to miss the entire 2015 season while, again, playing for free. Or, even worse, he could sustain a career-ending injury. 

John Raoux/Associated Press

Matt Barkley, the former USC quarterback from 2009-12, saw firsthand the ramifications that injuries can have on draft stock. A potential top-10 pick in the 2012 draft, Barkley instead tumbled to the fourth round (98th pick) in the 2013 draft. That's not to compare Barkley to Winston as prospects, but the former is nevertheless a cautionary tale for coming back for another year of school. 

Perhaps one of the biggest reasons for Winston to come out now, though, is that in many ways, he's hit his ceiling in the college game. "After three years under Florida State head coach Jimbo Fisher, he's maxed out what he's going to learn," B/R draft guru Matt Miller said. 

More collegiate-level snaps could be good for Winston's development in theory, especially after throwing 18 interceptions in 2014, but he isn't picking up heaps of knowledge during practice. He has complete command of the Seminoles offense by now. In fact, Winston would shoulder even more responsibility for the offense in 2015. Florida State replaces most of its starting offensive line and two biggest receiving weapons, receiver Rashad Greene and tight end Nick O'Leary. 

The timing is right for Winston, and he grades out well. Miller has Winston as the fourth-best player and second-best quarterback behind Oregon's Marcus Mariota in this year's draft. Similarly, ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. ranks Winston as the second-best quarterback and sixth overall player. When you receive those types of grades, it's tough to pass up the opportunity. 

The compelling part of Winston's decision will come in the next several months as his game, and his character, are picked apart. It happens to everyone, but this draft season should be especially riveting because Winston is so polarizing. 

It's difficult for a lot of people to view Winston through the lens of a football player and only a football player. That's how powerful the rape allegation was against him, even though there was never enough evidence to incriminate the 21-year-old. (Winston's accuser just filed a federal civil lawsuit against FSU trustees, according to Brendan Sonnone of the Orlando Sentinel.) 

Whether people think Winston is guilty, innocent or are undecided, his personal life and his football performance have become virtually intertwined. 

As a fallout, more frivolous off-the-field issues—like "Crab-Gate," the BB gun incident and shouting an obscene (and NSFW) Internet meme in public—have become further indictments on his reputation. B/R's Mike Freeman explained this in his 10-point stance: 

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Second, and most interesting, is that some scouts believe he'd be ranked ahead of Mariota—by far—if it wasn't for his maturity (or lack thereof) and off-field issues. 'He's the best pro-ready quarterback in the country,' said one scout, 'but he's also extremely immature.'

'If I picked him first in this draft,' the scout explained, 'I'd cross my fingers on both hands. If he stayed in college, stayed out of trouble and grew up, I'd draft him and only cross the fingers on one hand.'

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Here's the counterpoint, though: Someone is going to draft Winston, probably in the first round, despite all of that. 

It only takes one team to fall in love with Winston. Given the lengths some franchises will go to pick up a quarterback early, Winston's odds seem favorable. Who knows? Maybe a change of scenery and coaching will keep him on the straight and narrow. 

The average college football fan that dislikes Winston and Florida State—and there are many—wants Winston gone because they feel he's somehow polluting the sport. However, Winston doesn't owe college football, its fans or media a departure. He only owes it to himself to get better. The best place for him to do that is in the NFL, where he can concentrate on his future full time and get paid for it.

Go earn, Winston. 

Ben Kercheval is a lead writer for college football. All quotes obtained firsthand unless cited otherwise. All stats courtesy of cfbstats.com.