*Walt taking 2014 and 2018 |
Charlie Campbell, Senior Draft Analyst |
NFL Teams Preparing for Jameis Winston to Enter 2015 Draft
Updated July 16, 2014By Charlie Campbell. Follow Charlie on Twitter @draftcampbell.
Over the past months since winning the Heisman Trophy and a national championship, Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston and his family have made claims that they plan on Winston playing two more seasons of college football and another season of baseball for the Seminoles. Despite those claims, many fans and pundits have assumed that Winston would enter the 2015 NFL Draft.
We reached out to NFL teams to see how they plan to approach Winston this fall. Their response was they would scout him as if he’ll be entering the 2015 NFL Draft. They will write their scouting reports on him and will wait until the end of the year to include their off-the-field and character assessments. With a prospect like Winston, who could be a high first-rounder, teams would rather be prepared for him to come out than having to start the process months later.
Scouts write reports on high-profile prospects who are viewed as likely to declare. Houston’s Jadeveon Clowney, Buffalo’s Sammy Watkins and Jacksonville’s Marqise Lee were treated like they were seniors last year, but the vast majority of players that have eligibility remaining aren’t scouted like they’re entering the draft. Even with the comments made by him and his family, NFL teams are treating Winston the same as they did with Clowney, Watkins or Lee.
Over the years, many prospects have said publicly they plan on going back to school – until the time comes when they’re starring at a big pay day if they declare for the draft. Some recent examples of that are Robert Griffin III and Jace Amaro. Around the NFL, teams are taking the stance entering the season that Winston will be like Griffin and Amaro.
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