Jameis Winston to Bucs with No. 1 pick
— -- After months of intensive research, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers used the first overall draft pick on Jameis Winston, a quarterback with a checkered past.
The Bucs drafted Winston on Thursday night in a sign that they don't believe a series of off-field incidents in college will be an indicator of future behavior.
Winston was accused of sexual assault during his freshman season at Florida State but never was charged. The Bucs investigated that and other off-field incidents, and apparently came away with the conclusion that Winston won't have any more trouble.
Buccaneers coach Lovie Smith and general manager Jason Licht said repeatedly over the past two months that they were comfortable with the prospect of taking Winston, who also generated negative headlines when he was cited for shoplifting crab legs from a supermarket and later suspended for one game last season after climbing onto a table in the Florida State student union and shouting an obscenity.
On the field, there are few questions about Winston, who led Florida State to the national championship during his Heisman Trophy-winning freshman season in 2013. The 6-foot-3, 231-pound Winston passed for 3,907 yards and 25 touchdowns with 18 interceptions last season, completing a collegiate career in which he went 26-1 as a starter for the Seminoles.
Winston was not in Chicago for the draft; instead, he was in his hometown of Bessemer, Alabama with family and friends. Winston did tweet after the Bucs made the pick.
The Bucs also looked closely at Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota. But Winston had the edge because he played in a pro-style offense in college, while Mariota, the reigning Heisman winner, played in a spread system. The Tennessee Titans selected Mariota with the second overall pick.
The Bucs also were talking to multiple teams looking to move out of the late first round in exchange for Tampa Bay's pick in the second round -- No. 34 overall, which is the second pick Friday night, a source told ESPN's Ed Werder.
Although the Bucs were 2-14 last season, Winston has a chance at immediate success in the NFL. He'll be surrounded by good skill-position talent in wide receivers Vincent Jackson and Mike Evans, who each had 1,000 receiving yards last year. The Bucs also believe second-year tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins can be a productive receiver.
Winston figures to have an excellent chance to start right away in Tampa Bay, where Mike Glennon is the only other quarterback on the roster.
Winston becomes the second quarterback taken No. 1 overall by the Bucs in franchise history. Tampa Bay used the first pick on Vinny Testaverde in 1987.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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