Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston will enter the 2015 NFL draft, according to his father.
"Initially, Antonor Winston said his son planned to wait until after the College Football Playoff National Championship presented by AT&T to announce a decision, but Jameis Winston came to a firm decision Tuesday night that he was ready to enter the NFL draft," ESPN's David M. Hale wrote.
The elder Winston told members of the media that Jameis received a first-round grade from the NFL draft advisory committee.
ESPN NFL draft insider Mel Kiper Jr. has Winston as the second-best quarterback prospect behind Oregon's Marcus Mariota. However, Kiper's colleague Todd McShay believes that Winston projects as the better pro than Mariota.
"[Florida State quarterback] Jameis Winston, to me, is the better prospect," McShay said. "Marcus Mariota is still a very good prospect but needs developing. They both have a chance to be great. But they both come with red flags. Winston's red flags are off the field."
Winston suffered his first loss in college to Oregon in the Rose Bowl Game last week. Overall, he is 26-1 as FSU's starter. Winston notched a Heisman Trophy and a National Championship victory last season. However, his maturity and character have been questioned due to repeated off-field issues.
"The cons about Jameis Winston are, what are you getting with maturity and with the individual off the field? Can he stay out of trouble? And can he handle himself in a manner where you feel comfortable giving him $25 million or $30 million and tagging him from day one as the face of your franchise? It's hard, man. I don't know the answer right now," McShay said.
Winston will likely become the third FSU quarterback taken in the first round over the last five years. The Minnesota Vikings drafted Christian Ponder at No. 12 overall in 2011, and the Buffalo Bills drafted E.J. Manuel at No. 16 in 2013.
