Jameis Winston had the New Orleans Saints in a great position to start the season. They were 4-2 heading into their matchup with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 8 before disaster struck.

Winston suffered a knee injury in that game, which ended his season prematurely. The Saints were 5-2 after that game, but their season quickly went off the rails without Winston under center.

Had Taysom Hill been healthy enough to start right away after Winston’s injury, things may have gone differently. Alas, Trevor Siemian ended up starting four games and the team endured a five-game losing streak that pretty much ended the season. New Orleans finished the season 4-1, but it was too little too late.

Winston was having a good season before the injury, as he threw 14 touchdowns compared to only three interceptions. He was on pace for the highest quarterback rating and QBR of his career as well.

With plenty of changes coming to the roster in New Orleans, will Winston remain there for another year? The Saints are certainly a possibility to retain him, but should he look for an opportunity elsewhere, these three teams could be a landing spot for Winston.

3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers selected Winston with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft. With Tom Brady retiring, they have a huge hole to fill at the position. Could Winston be brought back again as the starter?

It would make some sense as Winston has experience playing in Bruce Arians’ offense. His huge arm is a good fit for the downfield passing game that Arians deploys. Also, if his interception issues were fixed by Sean Payton and the Saints, he could put up some gaudy numbers in Tampa Bay.

With some salary cap restraints, the Buccaneers will have to get creative finding a quarterback this offseason. Coming off an injury, Winston could be had for a cheaper deal this season and look to parlay it into a bigger payday in 2023. Only 28-years old, Winston has plenty of prime years left ahead of him.

2. Denver Broncos

The Denver Broncos are looking to go big game hunting on the quarterback market. They would love to pry Aaron Rodgers away from the Green Bay Packers and reunite him with Nathaniel Hackett, who was hired as Broncos head coach after being the Packers’ offensive coordinator. Deshaun Watson of the Houston Texans is another player the Broncos would love to have.

But, completing a trade isn’t always easy. If Denver struck out, they will have to look elsewhere for a starting quarterback. Teddy Bridgewater is a free agent and Drew Lock isn’t the answer. Jameis Winston would present an intriguing option.

Winston has a lot of arm talent and the Broncos have an impressive group of pass catchers to get the ball to. Jerry Jeudy, Courtland Sutton, Tim Patrick, K.J. Hamler, Noah Fant and Albert Okwuegbunam are one of the most impressive skill position groups in the NFL, but they need a quarterback to get them the ball.

Winston, talent-wise, is a sizable upgrade on what Denver has had the last few seasons. While not as flashy of a name as Rodgers and Watson, he would be good enough to get the Broncos in the playoff mix in a loaded AFC West.

1. Pittsburgh Steelers

For the first time in nearly two decades, the Pittsburgh Steelers are in the market for a new starting quarterback. They could turn to the 2022 NFL Draft to find their next franchise signal-caller, but if they can get a good deal in free agency, they will pounce.

Jameis Winston would be a huge upgrade on the Ben Roethlisberger we saw in recent seasons. He is a future Hall of Famer, but his waning arm strength and athleticism in the pocket were a detriment to the team’s offense.

Winston would bring the exact opposite. He can push the ball downfield with ease, which will help open up the running game for Najee Harris. Pittsburgh has some great receivers in Diontae Johnson, Chase Claypool and JuJu Smith Schuster, if he is re-signed, but failed to put them in advantageous positions.

With improved quarterback play, the Steelers could be contenders in 2022. They have a strong defense but need the offense to match if they are to make any noise this upcoming season.