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.
