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Jameis Winston can be an outstanding quarterback.

There have been moments and games throughout his career where he looks the part, the prodigious talent who was once a first-overall draft pick. There have been times when he lived up to the Peyton Manning comparisons he drew coming out of Florida State, and there were probably times when Tampa Bay, at least early on, believed he would be the backbone of the franchise.

But those moments never seemed to last more than a moment, because the bad version of Winston, the one who loses games for his team, always showed up to derail his progress. Some things happened in Tampa Bay last season that were not entirely his fault, but there is a reason no one wants him to start.

To better understand why that is happening, and what led him to New Orleans' doorstep, I decided to watch Winston's worst moments. I know he has ridiculous talent -- everyone does – but he is signing with the Saints because he has significant issues and needs help. I wanted to see those issues for myself and gain an understanding of what Winston might be focusing on during the next year. So, I decided to breakdown all 30 of his interceptions last year to help paint a picture.***premium***

A couple of notes first:

The Tampa Bay offensive line was pretty rough compared to New Orleans'. Winston was under pressure on 30.5 percent of his dropbacks, while Drew Brees saw pressure on 18.5 percent of his.

Winston threw 14 interceptions while under pressure.

Winston had a staggering 13 interceptions against Cover 3 looks.

Seven of his interceptions came on curls. This seems unfathomable if you watch the Saints considering Brees hasn't thrown an interception on a curl since 2016.

Winston threw 42 percent of his passes wide, 25.6 percent to the slot, 12.9 percent to a player in a tight split, and 16 percent to running backs last season.

For comparison: Brees' numbers: 36.5 wide, 28.8 slot, 7.1 tight, 24.1 running backs.

And one editorial point: This article is going to come off as being extremely negative because these are Winston's 30 worst moments. Here's the flip side: If you removed these 30 moments from his tape, you'd be watching a player who looks like one of the better quarterbacks in the league.

Just remember that Winston has a ton of talent. He threw for 5,109 yards and 33 touchdowns last season. Quantifying his talent isn't a problem. Just watch him. The only thing that matters is his ability to fix the things that have plagued his career. He has enough talent to be one of the better quarterbacks in the league if he puts in the work to improve.

So, what I decided to do here is take notes on each play and share what I saw.

Away we go.

***

Interception 1

Week 1 vs. San Francisco

Second quarter, 2:55 remaining, second-and-10

Winston throws a pass to O.J. Howard over the middle that bounces off of his hands and into the arms of a linebacker. The pass wasn't perfect, as it could have come in a little bit lower, but Howard didn't have to stretch for it and should have completed the play.

Verdict: The tight end let his quarterback down. Not Winston's fault.

Interception 2

Week 1 vs. San Francisco

Third quarter, 11:53 remaining, second-and-13

Pressure was a big issue for Winston throughout the season. Some of this was due to playing in a Tampa Bay offense that liked to take shots down the field, which meant allowing plays to develop for longer periods. In New Orleans, if he ever gets to start, Winston would be asked to get rid of the ball quicker.

On this second play, the offensive line is completely baffled by San Francisco's pass rush, with four guys blocking two on one side of the line, and the right tackle left with two players. Winston is immediately under pressure and throws a pass toward the sideline. His receiver runs a curl that breaks toward the middle of the field, Richard Sherman is in position for an easy interception.

Verdict: The offensive line let Winston down on this play, but he should have made a better decision with the ball. This one is on Winston.

Interception 3

Week 1 vs. San Francisco

Fourth quarter, 2:10 remaining, first-and-10

This play is one of the worst screens you'll ever see. The offensive line is immediately overwhelmed by San Francisco, and the screen is so slow to develop that Winston is engulfed by pressure by the time the running back gets into his route. Doesn't help that Howard misses a block over the middle, which creates some chaos as the running back comes out of his route.

Verdict: There is no chance this play was ever going to work. But Winston's decision to throw the ball up instead of taking a sack is impossible to understand.

Interception 4

Week 3 vs. the Giants

Fourth quarter, 11:24 remaining, third-and-5

The Tampa Bay pass rush folds against a four-man rush, but there should be no excuses here. Winston has enough of a pocket to hit a wide-open Mike Evans over the middle. The throw is not as easy as it looks since Winston is never able to set his base (below) due to the pressure, but this is a throw that a starting quarterback has to complete. Instead, it comes in well behind Evans, and the receiver never has a shot.

Verdict: This is probably the worst one for Winston so far.

Interception 5

Week 4 vs. the Rams

Fourth quarter, 8:25 remaining, third-and-9

You could forgive this one if Tampa Bay was trailing, and Winston was trying to make something happen. But the Bucs were up 45-34, with a little more than eight minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. Winston attempts a pass up the sideline while throwing off of his back foot to avoid getting hit before releasing the ball when he could have either taken a sack or hit one of his targets underneath on this play (yellow is where the ball goes. The receiver at the 20 on that side looks more open because the pass pulls the widest defensive back up the sideline. He still could have gone there but probably wouldn't have gotten the first down). You're probably punting with either the latter options, but it beats a having an interception returned for a touchdown. Tampa still won this game.

Verdict: Live to play another down. This one is on Winston.

Interception 6

Week 6 vs. Carolina

First quarter, 15 minutes remaining, first-and-10

The right tackle starts to lose his block, causing Winston to speed himself up at the first sign of danger and force a pass into coverage. This isn't an easy situation to navigate, and Winston clearly lacked trust in his offensive line, but a starting quarterback has to make better decisions when things are falling apart. He could have gone to the flat or taken the sack if he didn't have enough time to make another read.

Verdict: Bad blocking, but this one is on Winston.

Interception 7

Week 6 vs. Carolina

Second quarter, 9:17 remaining, third-and-12

Josh Wells, the right tackle, is back in the spotlight for the wrong reasons. He gets smoked by Bruce Irvin, who hits Winston as he attempts a pass to Howard on the left sideline. This Tampa Bay offensive line was difficult to watch. Drafting Iowa offensive lineman Tristan Wirfs was a smart move.

Verdict: This one is on Wells.

Interception 8

Week 6 vs. Carolina

Third quarter, 8:21 remaining, First-and-10

Winston comes under immediate pressure and possibly has Evans open down the field, depending on your point of view. Luke Kuechly is lurking underneath, and it is possible that he jumps this route no matter what, but Winston got hit as he threw the ball. The decision is questionable either way, especially since Winston never saw the linebacker. If he had, this pass might have a little more loft on it coming out of his hand.

Verdict: I'm putting it on the line, but it's close.

Interception 9

Week 6 vs. Carolina

Fourth quarter, 2:31 remaining, fourth-and-10

Sometimes you have to watch other teams to really appreciate the team you see most frequently. Four interceptions in one game is a lot. The story on this one is the same as the rest. Winston gets blitzed, doesn't see the field properly, and gets picked off. A cornerback covering another player read this pass the whole way and jumped the route.

Verdict: Tough spot. Winston had to get a pass off, and it was fourth down, but he stared down the receiver and let the cornerback read his eyes. This one is on Winston.

Interception 10

Week 6 vs. Carolina

Fourth quarter, 21 seconds remaining, first-and-10

This is just bad football. Carolina is playing prevent defense, and no one looks open, but Winston has plenty of time and should throw the ball away. Instead, he throws it up in Evans' direction and hopes for the best. The wide receiver never sees the ball, and the cornerback makes an easy catch.

Verdict: This one is on Winston.

Interception 11

Week 8 vs. Tennessee

First quarter, 54 seconds remaining, second-and-13

Winston thinks he's throwing the ball up the seam to Chris Godwin. Godwin, however, thinks he's supposed to be running a curl. Malcolm Butler spots the confusion, bails on his assignment, and runs up the seam for an easy interception. Someone made a significant mental error.

Verdict: Impossible to tell on this one.

Interception 12

Week 8 vs. Tennessee

Fourth quarter, 26 seconds remaining, second-and-10

The Bucs could have won this game by going 64 yards in 26 seconds. Not a likely scenario, but it could have gotten done with a smart and aggressive approach. Winston had the aggressive part down. Unfortunately, he threw a pass way down the field that never had a shot to be caught by anyone playing for Tampa Bay. You could see as soon as he loaded up to throw the ball that this play was in trouble.

Verdict: Bad throw. Bad decision. This one is on Winston.

Interception 13

Week 10 vs. Arizona

First quarter, 13:47 remaining, third-and-7

It isn't uncommon to see an out route get jumped by a lurking linebacker or safety. Sometimes a quarterback just doesn't see the coverage. Winston, however, forced a throw to a player who was never open. What did he hope to achieve?

Brees has attempted 311 out routes since the 2015 season and thrown two interceptions. Winston has 298 attempts and seven interceptions on the route over the same span.

Verdict: On Winston.

Interception 14

Week 10 vs. Arizona

Third quarter, 1:55 remaining, third-and-11

Winston's confidence got him in trouble during his second interception against Arizona. He thought he could thread the needle and squeeze the pass into a throwing lane against double coverage. He couldn't, and the pass got batted away by a safety and intercepted by a linebacker.

Verdict: Winston needs to make safer decisions with the football, even if it is third-and-11. The Bucs won this game, but turning the ball over deep in your own territory with the game tied is worse than punting. Winston needs a better feel for when it makes sense to take a risk and when it is OK to fold and live for the next series.

Interception 15

Week 11 vs. New Orleans

First quarter, 10 seconds remaining, second-and-10

I have no idea what Howard was thinking on this play. His attempt at catching this pass is baffling. Howard gets his hands on the ball, and instead of pulling it in, he starts to transfer it to his other hand by going behind his back, gets hit, and loses possession. I can't even begin to explain the logic behind this chain of events.

Verdict: This one is on Howard.

Interception 16

Week 11 vs. New Orleans

Second quarter, 9 seconds remaining, third-and-11

The Saints ran a perfect pressure on this play that freed up Chauncey Gardner-Johnson and Patrick Robinson coming around the edges. The running back picked up Gardner-Johnson, which left Robinson with a clear path to Winston. The quarterback gunned the ball down the field, but it came up short. Kiko Alonso tipped the ball right into Vonn Bell's hands for the pick. Funny that the only interception of Bell's career occurred when someone else put the ball right in his hands.

Verdict: I don't hate this interception. The shot down the field basically served as a punt.

Interception 17

Week 11 vs. New Orleans

Fourth quarter, 5:19 remaining, fourth-and-10

The Saints ran the same pressure as they did on Interception 16.

Winston was never really under pressure, but he quickly got rid of the ball and threw it directly to Marcus Williams. He might have actually had Evans open if the two were on the same page since P.J. Williams incorrectly tried to jump an underneath route. But Evans cut inside, and Winston threw up the field.

Verdict: Tough to tell which player messed up the play.

Interception 18

Week 11 vs. New Orleans

Fourth quarter, 2:52 remaining, third-and-1

Winston attempted to throw a fade to Mike Evans but didn't get enough underneath it. P.J. Williams was able to undercut the pass for an interception.

Verdict: This one is on Winston.

Interception 19

Week 12 vs. Atlanta

First quarter, 12:12, first-and-10

Sometimes a cornerback just makes a great play, and that's what happened on Interception 19. Desmond Trufant baited Winston into making a throw and then drifted into position to undercut it once the ball was in the air. Maybe another quarterback doesn't make the same mistake, but this feels like one where the coaching staff would move right by it during a film review.

Verdict: Good play by the defense.

Interception 20

Week 12 vs. Atlanta

First quarter, 3:24 remaining, third-and-7

This one is tough to watch. Winston does a good job of avoiding pressure, and should have hit the open crossing route (squared route below) he initially eyes. But at the last minute, he jumps and tries to make a throw across his body to another player. The pass is way off the mark and gets intercepted.

Verdict: Hard to understand why Winston didn't go with the easier throw on this play. He had it open and almost certainly saw it.

Interception 21

Week 14 vs. Indianapolis

First quarter, 14:26 remaining, first-and-10

There seems to be a real issue with spotting linebackers in coverage. Winston never even sees Darius Leonard during this play.

Verdict: On Winston. The decision to throw to that side of the field is hard to understand when there is a safety, cornerback and linebacker in coverage of one player.

Interception 22

Week 14 vs. Indianapolis

Second quarter, 2:47 remaining, third-and-10

A well-disguised blitz left Winston baffled. The scary part, however, is that Indianapolis was able to create this result far too easily. Seeing linebackers in coverage is a big issue for Winston, and it looks like the Colts keyed on that issue perfectly.

Verdict: This one is on Winston.

Interception 23

Week 14 vs. Indianapolis

Fourth quarter, 9:57 remaining, second-and-9

Winston gets the ball over the linebacker and to his receiver, but the pass is just a little bit high, and Breshad Perriman fails to pull it in.

Verdict: On Winston, but the mistake is forgivable.

Interception 24

Week 15 vs. Detroit

First quarter, 12:44 remaining, second-and-23

Those damn linebackers.

Verdict: This one is on Winston.

Interception 25

Week 16 vs. Houston

First quarter, 14:19 remaining, second-and-10

Winston had Godwin open on an out route, but he didn't put enough on the ball, and the cornerback, who was playing off coverage, was able to break on it for an interception.

Verdict: On Winston.

Interception 26

Week 16 vs. Houston

First quarter, 3:19 remaining, third-and-6

Justin Reid lurks in the middle of the field until Winston throws the ball and then jumps an in-breaking route coming from the other side of the field. There is a trend here of him not seeing people waiting underneath or in the middle of the field to jump routes.

Verdict: Too many examples of plays where Winston doesn't see the coverage.

Interception 27

Week 16 vs. Houston

Second quarter, 14:15 remaining, first-and-10

This one feels like a combination of a bad route and a bad pass. Perriman could have broken back a little sooner and fought his way through the ball. Instead, the curl gets jumped for an interception. Bad football.

Verdict: Toss up.

Interception 28

Week 16 vs. Houston

Fourth quarter, 1:31 remaining, third-and-1

The decision to try to throw an out route when the defensive back has a clear angle to the ball is troubling. Winston clearly has a lot of belief in his arm, and that allows him to do some incredible things, but it also gets him in a lot of trouble. He needs to make safer throws and smarter decisions.

Verdict: On Winston.

Interception 29

Week 17 vs. Atlanta

Second quarter, 5:14 remaining, second-and-10

I couldn't quite tell if Winston's elbow got hit as he was throwing this one or not. I hope it did, otherwise, the placement of the pass makes no sense. The receiver never had a chance to make a play.

Verdict: Maybe the offensive line? Maybe Winston? A little bit of both, for sure.

Interception 30

Week 17 vs. Atlanta

Overtime, 10 minutes remaining, first-and-10

Deion Jones jumping a route and running it back for a touchdown was the most fitting way for this to end.

Verdict: On Winston.

***

Getting through those 30 plays was rough. Typically, this is not the way I like to evaluate players, but I was curious about Winston's darkest moments because these are the things that need to get cleaned up.

The biggest thing that I think Winston needs to correct is his awareness. The trend of not seeing guys underneath and being baited into bad throws through zone blitzes is something that needs significant work. Sometimes it is almost like he doesn't know how to identify players in coverage. Some of that is on him, but you have to wonder if he has ever gotten – or been willing to receive – the coaching needed to improve.

Also, his ability to handle pressure could improve a little bit.

I do not believe the style of offense in Tampa Bay last season was best suited for his talents. So much of the burden on offense rested on the quarterback. He didn't get much help after the catch, and Winston was often asked to push the ball down the field and be aggressive. That approach isn't going to help a guy who already makes questionable decisions look very good. And some of that is also on Winston. He needs to be smarter about taking easy throws and not forcing things.

As bad as some this stuff looks, and as hard as it was to watch in succession, I think the Saints could make Winston look a lot better than he did last season. But make no mistake, there is a ton of work to do.

Everything I've heard makes it sound like Winston is ready to get to work and wants to fix these issues. He's in a good place for that to happen. Now he just has to make it happen. The future of his career depends on it.