The Buccaneers must make sure to use the No. 1 pick in the upcoming draft wisely, so they'll take an extended look at top quarterback prospect Jameis Winston this week.
Winston is in Tampa for a trip that will include several meetings with Bucs ownership, the team confirmed Tuesday. ESPN's Adam Schefter reported a three-day visit, but the Buccaneers claim the quarterback's stay will last just one day.
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A prolonged visit this early in the draft process for a prospect like Winston is unheard of, as Schefter points out.
Jameis Winston visiting Buccaneers today might be unprecedented. Potential No. 1 picks don't visit teams with No. 1 pick this early. Ever.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 3, 2015Winston impressed scouts at the NFL Combine with his arm and his football acumen, even drawing comparisons to Peyton Manning as far as football IQ is concerned. He'll have another chance to bolster his draft stock at Florida State's pro day March 31. However, Winston has a spotty off-field track record that certainly concerns NFL teams.
We can't say the Bucs aren't doing their due diligence on this one.
"Being able to play three years in Florida, I would love to stay here in this great state," Winston said, via the Bucs website. "I've just got to take advantage of this blessing. It's not really important to me to be the first pick, but it is important to me to be picked. I believe that I have been blessed during my years at Florida State to win a national championship and just be a winning quarterback. And I believe this place – I would love to be here."