Buccaneers GM: Winston wasn't a bust

Jameis Winston's time with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers has come to an end, and though the former first overall pick never lived up to the promise that accompanies such a high draft pedigree, the Buccaneers aren't ready to call their selection a mistake.

Asked Thursday whether he considered Winston a bust, Bucs general manager Jason Licht had nothing but kind words for his former starting quarterback.

"We have a lot of respect for Jameis. Jameis was still part of our plan if things went a different route. I've got a lot of respect for him," Licht said. "I thought he did a lot of great things and I think anybody in our office, or our building, would say the same thing. He did some spectacular things for us.

"I would never say that personally - and I think I speak on behalf of the organization - that he was a bust."

Winston went 28-42 in five seasons as Tampa's starter and failed to lead the Buccaneers to the postseason. The team's best season with Winston at the helm was a 9-7 campaign in 2016. The Buccaneers posted sub-.500 records the four other years.

Despite those underwhelming team results, Winston set a number of franchise records, including career passing yards and touchdowns by a Buccaneers quarterback.

The Bucs were open to bringing Winston back but chased bigger fish in free agency.

"I think he's got a bright future ahead of him," Licht said. "It just really comes down to, we had a chance to get Tom Brady. Tom Brady is a hell of a player and we are very excited about that. I’m very confident that Jameis is going to go on and get an opportunity. That's not the last you're going to hear from Jameis."