BEREA — Jameis Winston said at the time he signed with the Cleveland Browns in mid-March the reason he signed with the organization was due to the "opportunity."

Just what was that opportunity that drew the veteran quarterback to Cleveland, though? Even at the time the former No. 1 overall pick signed, the Browns were expressing full confidence in the return of starter Deshaun Watson from a November shoulder surgery.

For Winston, it wasn't about being a starter or not. However, it was, at least a little bit, about the chance to share a quarterback room with Watson.

"A big reason that I wanted to come here was because the opportunity was here for me to serve and to give to my teammates," Winston said after last Thursday's OTA session. "And (Watson) being one of the best quarterbacks in this league, being a quarterback that I have had to see him grow as a No. 1 draft pick and just see his ascension as a player, I have familiarity with that. So it is an honor to serve him.”

Two months later, Watson has been on the field for the Browns' offseason program, albeit in a limited capacity because of his shoulder rehab. He's throwing every other day during this stage of the program, with those throws being limited to essentially just individual drills.

Winston's been there too, taking advantage of the reps that have been freed up because of the approach being taken with both Watson and Dorian Thompson-Robinson, who is still recovering from a December hip injury. That's provided both Winston and Tyler Huntley — who was also signed in March after four seasons, 22 games and 10 starts with the Baltimore Ravens — ample work in new offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey's offense.

What it's also provided Winston is the opportunity he says he was seeking when he signed with the Browns after four seasons with the New Orleans Saints.

"Yeah, just extreme level of gratitude that we are able to come out here and compete and just get better as a team," Winston said. "I thoroughly enjoy just developing relationships with my teammates and obviously getting some reps. So that’s pretty fun."

Pretty fun would be a fair way to describe the vibe Winston has tried to bring to his new team. The 30-year-old is rarely seen without a massive smile on his face and a word of encouragement for his teammates.

That's despite no guarantee Winston will see the field once the regular season starts. In fact, there a way to spin it that it would be a good sign for the Browns' — and Watson's — season if he didn't take a meaningful snap.

"I think the most encouraging thing is the ‘All right, if we make a mistake and we go in the room and correct it,’ you see that being corrected the next day on whether it’s similar concepts, the same concept, whatever it is," Dorsey said. "So as a veteran guy who’s played a lot of football and seen a lot of things, it’s not like he’s not open to the coaching and not open to the evolution of his game, and kind of how maybe we do things a little different than what he’s used to.

"So he’s done a great job from a leadership standpoint, from an execution standpoint, continuing to grow and then taking in what we’re talking in there onto the grass.”

It's a far cry from where Winston started his NFL career as the No. 1 overall pick by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2015 after winning both a national championship and the Heisman Trophy at Florida State University. He started 80 of the first 87 NFL games in which he appeared, including 70 of 72 with the Bucs.

The Winston who arrives in Cleveland, though, has used all of those experiences to prepare him for whatever is asked of him on the third stop on his pro football journey.

"I’ve been in every role in terms of the quarterback position in the NFL that they have to offer," Winston said. "So I focus on what I’m grateful for. I’m grateful that I was the No. 1 pick. I’m grateful that I went through some adversity Year 5 (leading the NFL with 30 interceptions). I’m grateful that I got to learn from a Hall of Fame head coach (Sean Payton) and a Hall of Fame quarterback (Drew Brees). I’m grateful that I ended up being here with a storied franchise, a culture franchise with an elite fan base. So I’m focused on what I’m grateful for."

Chris Easterling can be reached at ceasterling@thebeaconjournal.com. Read more about the Browns at www.beaconjournal.com/sports/browns. Follow him on X at @ceasterlingABJ

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Jameis Winston embracing role in Cleveland Browns QB room