Deep Rate: 21.69% | Passing NEP per Attempt: 0.33 | Success Rate: 39.84%
If I had a 6'5, 230-pound megafreak at wide receiver in Mike Evans, you can bet I'd be lobbing that rock, too. That didn't necessarily help Jameis Winston dominate on his deep balls, though.
Winston finished 23rd in deep ball Passing NEP per attempt, right behind Alex Smith and Trevor Siemian. It was also a decent step back from the deep numbers he posted in his rookie season.
| On Deep Passes | Attempts | Passing NEP per Attempt | Success Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 133 | 0.45 | 43.61% |
| 2016 | 123 | 0.33 | 39.84% |
This isn't to say that these struggles are all Winston's fault. Evans was his only true deep-ball threat, meaning defenses could load up on coverage there to limit Evans' effectiveness. As a result, Winston averaged just 0.39 Passing NEP per attempt when targeting Evans. They need some help.
Thankfully for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, this is the year to get that. Of the top 10 receivers on deep passes last year, four are scheduled to be free agents. If they can lure a guy like Kenny Stills, DeSean Jackson, or Kenny Britt into town, we could see some quick growth from Winston in this department.