NFL Rumors: Bucs Picking Jameis Winston? QB heads to Tampa

By Cheri Cheng - 03 Mar '15 12:02PM

One of the top prospects in the upcoming 2015 NFL draft, Jameis Winston headed to Tampa, Florida for an all-day visit with the Buccaneers, the organization confirmed.

A source stated that Winston, who played for Florida State, arrived on Monday and will leave Wednesday. Throughout the day, Winston will mostly be meeting with the team's ownership, the Glazer family. He will also meet with the bulk of the coaching staff. The meetings will determine whether or not Winston would fit in with the Buccaneers, who have the first pick in this year's draft.

Although meeting with a team is not unusual, the timing for Winston's visit is. Typically, prospects do not visit teams until April, after the new league year has started. The meeting, however, did not break any NFL policies.

Winston was a two-year starter at Florida State. As a redshirt freshman, he won the Heisman Trophy and the national championship. Throughout his two seasons, he only lost one game, which was the 2014 College Football playoff semifinal match against Oregon at the Rose Bowl. Despite his collegiate success, Winston's has a history of behavioral issues.

Last month, Buccaneers coach Lovie Smith addressed Winston's character. A student at the university accused Winston of sexual assault but formal charges were never filed against him.

"Right now, with the information that we have right now," Smith has said. "I understand the allegations against him. I understand that he went through the justice system, the court system to be exonerated on some allegations against him. I understand the college things a lot of guys do that you wish you wouldn't later on. I understand some of the things that he did that are on his record right now. We just take all the information that we can possibly get right now."

The other top quarterback prospect, Oregon's Marcus Mariota is expected to visit Tampa as well sometime within the next month. Mariota won the Heisman trophy in 2014.

The NFL draft will take place from April 30 - May 2.