Report: Buccaneers Expected to Bring Back QB Jameis Winston in 2020

The Buccaneers are expected to bring back QB Jameis Winston next season but must decide to either use the franchise or transition tag on him.

Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports

The Buccaneers are expected to bring back quarterback Jameis Winston in 2020, according to the NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.

Rapoport reports that Tampa Bay hasn't decided whether to use the $27 million franchise tag or the $25 million transition tag on Winston, a pending unrestricted free agent. The team is also slated to keep outside linebacker Shaquil Barrett, who is also a pending free agent and the league leader in sacks (16.5). The franchise tag for a linebacker is expected to be nearly $16 million, while the transition tag would reach nearly $14 million.

The Buccaneers' reported decision to retain Winston is partly influenced by his improvement under coach Bruce Arians. The Florida State product leads the NFL in passing yards (4,573) and has a career-high 30 touchdowns this season. However, he also has 43 sacks and 26 interceptions—the most in the league. Chargers QB Philip Rivers has the second-highest total of interceptions at 18.

Tampa Bay entered Saturday's game against the Texans at 7–7 but were eliminated from playoff contention in early December.