National Football League

Unnamed NFL exec: 'With Jameis Winston I see JaMarcus Russell'

Published Apr. 24, 2015 8:25 a.m. ET

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With less than a week to go before Roger Goodell announces the first pick in the NFL Draft, the rumor mill is working overtime. And most of the chatter revolves around what the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will do with the No. 1 pick.

Most believe the Bucs will go with quarterback Jameis Winston, whose character issues have been well chronicled. But one unnamed personnel executive told the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel that Winston looks a lot like arguably the biggest bust in NFL Draft history.

"With Jameis Winston I see JaMarcus Russell. Lack of focus by JaMarcus is what I see in Winston. They're physically talented, but during the course of a game they kind of lose their focus and just put the ball up for grabs. I see the body. I see the lack of focus. I see the same coach and system. Only Winston's not as good an athlete and his arm isn't as strong as JaMarcus'."

Winston and Russell, who went to college at LSU, were both coached by former LSU offensive coordinator and current Florida State head coach Jimbo Fisher. Russell was taken with the No. 1 overall pick by the Oakland Raiders in 2007 but played his final game in 2009.

"Is this guy really going to be the first pick of the draft? You'd be drafting a quarterback that can't run, has off-field problems, has no power in his legs and makes bad decisions on the field. Somebody's going to make a horrible mistake," another personnel man told the Journal.

Winston announced in January he was entering the NFL Draft, leaving behind a tumultuous college career that included a lengthy sexual assault investigation. Tampa Bay could make Winston the No. 1 pick in the draft later this month.

Winston was cleared of wrongdoing by FSU following a two-day hearing last year to determine whether he violated sections of the student conduct code. A Florida prosecutor chose not to press charges against Winston, who impressed last month at Florida State's pro day.

In April 2014, he took $32 worth of crab legs and crawfish from a Tallahassee Publix. He said he forgot to pay, but agreed to and completed 20 hours of community service. He was briefly suspended from the baseball team, where he is a relief pitcher.

Winston was suspended for one football game in September after he climbed atop a table in a Florida State lunchroom and yelled an obscene phrase.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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