There's a growing chorus of NFL pundits and inside sources connecting the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and former Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston with the top pick in the 2015 NFL Draft.
According to a new report, you can add the Bucs owner Joel Glazer and his family to those fully on board with the addition of Winston.
"After speaking with sources in Tampa Bay and around the league, we've learned that the Buccaneers' owners, the Glazers, are comfortable with Winston, and they are on board with the Buccaneers drafting him with the first-overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft," writes Charlie Campbell of Walter Football.
"Sources say that entering the interview process, the Glazers want Winston. If he doesn't do poorly in the interviews and stays out of trouble leading up to the draft, Winston will be the first pick. The Glazers have a huge desire for a franchise quarterback, and have wanted that asset for years. Some sources say that the Glazers believe that Winston is that caliber of quarterback, and they want him to lead a resurgence in Tampa Bay like he did at Florida State."
Bucs head coach Lovie Smith is reportedly enamored with the young signal-caller, despite his comments at the opening day of the NFL Combine espousing his favorable view of Mike Glennon's bright NFL future. The team jettisoned Josh McCown already this offseason, leaving Tampa Bay with only Glennon and the entirely unknown Seth Lobato as potential franchise quarterbacks on the roster.
It's nearly a certainty that the team will select a quarterback with its first-round pick; the only question that remains is whether it's Winston or Oregon's Marcus Mariota.
If the report is accurate and the the Glazers have already signed off on the selection of Winston, then it's pretty much a done deal that he'll end up in Tampa.
As Mike Mayock noted in his recent media conference call, Winston's a phenomenal size-speed prospect whose NFL future hinges on his ability to improve his decision-making both on and off the field.
It's a significant question mark and there's no assurances he'll turn himself into a franchise QB at the next level, but it sure sounds increasingly likely he'll be dealing with whatever NFL growing pains he's forced to endure as a member of the Buccaneers organization.
This article has been edited.
