Report: Winston's deal with Saints worth $1.1M plus incentives

Jameis Winston took an eye-popping pay cut to join the New Orleans Saints.

The 2015 No. 1 overall pick is set to earn $1.1 million in base salary on his one-year deal with the Saints, with another $3.4 million available in incentives, according to Field Yates of ESPN.

Winston earned around $46 million in five seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, including $20.9 million in 2019 while playing on his fifth-year option.

Prior to signing Tom Brady, the Bucs reportedly considered signing Winston to a two-year contract worth $27 million guaranteed in the first season with a team option for 2021.

Not only did Winston fail to get top backup money, but his deal also trails that of Marcus Mariota, the 2015 draft's No. 2 overall pick, and the 2019 contract Teddy Bridgewater signed as New Orleans' backup.

Mariota joined the Las Vegas Raiders on a two-year, $17.6-million deal with $7.5 million guaranteed for the first season.

Meanwhile, Bridgewater signed a one-year deal worth a fully guaranteed $7.5 million to return as Drew Brees' backup last season. He also had an extra $5 million in incentives.

After winning all five starts for the Saints while Brees was sidelined with a thumb injury, Bridgewater received a three-year, $63-million contract from the Carolina Panthers in March.

Winston is likely hoping the "Harvard education in quarterback school" that he'll receive from Sean Payton and Co. will lead to a similar reward.

The former Bucs quarterback threw for 5,109 yards and 33 touchdowns last season, but his viability as a long-term starter remained a polarizing topic due to his league-leading 30 interceptions.

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