Eagles tried to trade up for Mariota, but Bucs stood by Jameis Winston

Jim Corbett | USA TODAY Sports

Show Caption Hide Caption Impressions of Jameis Winston's first day at rookie camp USA TODAY Sports' Jim Corbett details Jameis Winston's first day on the job in Tampa.

TAMPA – Philadelphia Eagles coach/czar Chip Kelly tried to get all the way up from No. 20 in last week's draft to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' No. 1 pick to grab Marcus Mariota. But the Bucs never wavered on Jameis Winston as their guy.

"There was communication with them,'' Bucs general manager Jason Licht told USA TODAY Sports on Saturday. "We definitely didn't think twice about it.''

Licht is already glad he didn't.

After Friday's opening of rookie minicamp when Winston got busy immersing himself in the business of turning the Buccaneers around, Licht went home feeling pleased.

"I told my wife, Blair, 'I gave him an A,''' Licht said. "I thought it was a great day. He knew the offense already. He wasn't overwhelmed.

"He was even a little ahead of the game. He was already trying to change protections. The coaches were like, 'Wait up. Hold on.'

"You're right. But the other guys aren't there yet."'

Is Winston already locked in as Day 1 starter ahead of Mike Glennon?

"We drafted him No. 1 overall, so…'' Licht didn't need to finish.





Several veterans texted the second-year GM and coach Lovie Smith right before the draft to urge them to select Winston over Mariota, the former Oregon quarterback of Kelly's fast-break offensive dreams.

"Either in a text or a phone call, it wasn't so much them telling us what to do,'' Licht said. "It was, 'I don't know what you guys are doing. But if you take Jameis No. 1, we're all for it.'''

Smith said he got several texts as well from the Bucs core players.

"We encourage guys to speak their minds,'' Smith said. "For our guys to say, 'We want this. And yeah, we're excited about it, our core players were all on board with what we were going to do.'

"And they're excited about him being their teammate.''

When Jacksonville Jaguars No. 3 pick defensive end Dante Fowler, Jr. went down Friday with a season-ending, non-contact torn anterior cruciate ligament, a member of the Bucs staff close with Fowler texted him, "Keep your head up. Things will be all right.'''

Fowler texted back, "Hey, thanks. Tell Jameis what's up," according to Licht.

In 19 years as a scout, personnel director or general manager, Licht has never evaluated a player with a higher football IQ.





Winston arrived at rookie minicamp hours ahead of his peers so he could greet each coming off the team bus.

"That's a leader,'' Smith said. "That's a trait you're looking for in your quarterback, a guy who can bring the group together. That's definitely him.''

Smith was pleased by the jump Winston made from Day 1 to 2, improving in his authoritative command and spot-on accuracy, especially on the deep ball Saturday.

"He knows a lot. But there's a lot to learn,'' Smith said. "We're not Tennessee Titans ready for the opener. But he gets it.

"A guy like Jameis wants to absorb it all right away. My wife, MaryAnne and I just had our ninth and 10th grandkids. We'd like for them to start walking right away. But they have to crawl. And as an NFL quarterback, you can't skip steps.

"He was better today than yesterday and will be tomorrow.''

Licht and Smith drafted Winston because he's "special.''

"His play was the first thing,'' Licht said. "After we got to know him, we realized the leader he is, how smart he is and how uncanny he is in his ability to compartmentalize and how much he loves the game.

"Every game I went to, and when Lovie and I went together to watch him at the Rose Bowl, Jameis made sure to talk to every single player one on one before kickoff.''

They had a comprehensive plan to help Winston succeed. They selected starting left tackle Donovan Smith in the second round and talented, blue-collar Div. III right guard Ali Marpet, a former Hobart left tackle, in the third round to protect their franchise quarterback.

"We're going to have an effective run game,'' Licht said.

And Winston vowed he'll be everything off the field they expect after extensively vetting his character issues.

"Jameis told me after we picked him, 'I got you,''' Licht said.