No. 1 NFL Draft Pick Jameis Winston Set to Become a Multi-Millionaire

Jameis Winston wowed fans as one of the best quarterbacks in college football, winning both a BCS National Championship and the Heisman Trophy in 2013. This would have made him a favorite pick for many companies looking for a high-profile endorser, but Winston’s off-the-field troubles, including an accusation of sexual assault, have made him a controversial figure.

Jameis Winston Set to Become a Multi-Millionaire Within a Year

Despite this, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers still thought Winston was their best bet for a winning 2015 season and picked up the star quarterback as the overall No. 1 NFL draft pick.

Though his contract is still in the works, Winston is set to play for the Buccaneers this fall and even as a rookie he will likely get a multi-million-dollar salary from the team, especially if past first-picks’ salaries are any indication, reports ABC News. The first pick of the 2014 NFL draft, Jadeveon Clowney, signed a $22.3 million contract with a $14.5 million signing bonus, and the first quarterback drafted the same year, Blake Bortles, was signed for a four-year $20.6 million contract with a $13.3 million bonus, according to Fox Business.

Read: 78% of NFL Players End Up Broke — These 6 Athletes Didn’t

Nike Signed Jameis Winston to Endorsement Deal Ahead of NFL Draft

By the end of this first season, Winston’s bank account will be flush with his salary and earnings from endorsement deals, likely making him a multi-millionaire after only his first season in the NFL. While Jameis Winston’s troubled reputation might scare away some endorsers, it undeniably draws him headlines and makes him a more well-known figure, increasing the draw of advertisers.

Ahead of the draft, for instance, ESPN reports that Nike signed Winston under terms that were undisclosed but that will surely make the quarterback a lot richer. Nike also signed Marcus Mariota and a few other football players at the same time it announced Winston’s endorsement.

Photo credit: gal2.org/David July

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: No. 1 NFL Draft Pick Jameis Winston Set to Become a Multi-Millionaire

This article by Elyssa Kirkham first appeared on GoBankingRates.com and was distributed by the Personal Finance Syndication Network.