For the sake of this exercise, let’s say that the Titans signed Winston to the going rate for a backup quarterback/1B starter (e.g. a two-year, $19 million deal). Should it be enamored by Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders or Miami’s Cam Ward — the consensus top two quarterback prospects in this year’s draft — Tennessee could select one of the two quarterbacks, who then have to beat out Winston for the starting job. Should Winston struggle mightily, head coach Brian Callahan can make the switch. But if Winston plays well, perhaps Tennessee could flip him for a mid-round draft pick at the NFL trade deadline or ensuing offseason?

Another scenario is that Tennessee doesn’t view Sanders or Ward as a franchise quarterback and instead takes a “generational talent,” in the words of new general manager Mike Borgonzi. That player could be Colorado two-way star Travis Hunter or Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter. In the Titans’ mind, they get the best prospect in the draft and continue to play it by ear at quarterback until a quarterback enters the draft that they think could become a star.

What could halt the enthusiasm for the Titans signing Winston, though, is the presence of Will Levis. The Titans could always give the 2023 second-rounder another shot at starting or have him backup whoever they take with the No. 1 pick.

3. Miami Dolphins

It’s simple: Tua Tagovailoa continues to suffer gruesome head injuries, and Miami’s offense craters without him. Winston would be a strong pickup for the Dolphins. While Winston’s turnovers and inconsistency over his 10-year career have plagued him, he’s certainly capable of starting and holding down the fort for an extensive period. Furthermore, Winston has found success playing with great playmakers, doing so with Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, among others, with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and led the New Orleans Saints to a 5-2 start in 2021 before tearing his ACL. In Miami, he would potentially have Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle on the outside and versatile running backs Raheem Mostert and De’Von Achane to set him up for success.

Over the past three years, Tagovailoa’s absence has been crippling for the Dolphins. In the four-game stretch that he missed early in the 2024 season, Miami went 1-3 and averaged just 10 points per game. The Dolphins were still in the playoff mix in Week 18 but lost to the then-4-12 New York Jets without Tagovailoa (hip) to close out the season. In the 2022 playoffs, the Dolphins lost on the road to the Buffalo Bills in the wild-card round by one score with third-string quarterback Skylar Thompson. With just slightly better quarterback play behind Tagovailoa, the Dolphins could’ve played deeper into January in the 2022 season and the one that just concluded.

Winston is an ideal target for the Dolphins, but there are a pair of other teams that could offer the veteran the possibility of starting the entire 2025 season.