Packers: 3 candidates to replace Aaron Rodgers if he retires in 2022

Jameis Winston

Jameis Winston’s one-year deal with the New Orleans Saints expires in the offseason, meaning he’s set to hit free agency in the spring.

Winston’s 2021 season was ended by a torn ACL in Week 8, so for now it remains to be seen whether he will be ready to go at the start of next season. It will depend on how quickly he recovers from a significant injury.

However, it’s hard to ignore that Winston was having a solid season in New Orleans.

In seven games, Winston threw for 1,170 yards and 14 touchdowns with just three interceptions. Considering he threw 30 interceptions in his final season as the starting quarterback for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, he showed some big improvements in this area of his game.

With Winston at QB, the Saints went 5-2, and that included a 38-3 season-opening win over the Packers when Winston threw for 148 yards and five touchdowns.

It’s unlikely Winston would be the Packers’ long-term answer and the next Hall-of-Fame quarterback to play in Green Bay. But that doesn’t mean he couldn’t help this team win games and stay in the playoff hunt for a couple of seasons while they rebuild around him.

If they feel Jordan Love needs some more time to develop, a veteran like Winston could be a good option for a season. Of course, his recovery from a torn ACL will be important.