Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston are better quarterbacks because of baseball

The idea that baseball helped Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston become better quarterbacks sounds like the kind of flawed reach that’s only discussed to fill time in a pregame show. But this breakdown is fascinating and makes a ton of sense.

Trent Dilfer and Matthew Hasselbeck took a look at some of the ways these two quarterbacks were aided by playing baseball. For Wilson, it comes down to the ability to throw off-balance with unconventional motions as well as the ability to scan the field. He showed both of these qualities while playing baseball at NC State.

Winston’s baseball background gives him a slightly different skill set. As a pitcher, he gained the ability to throw heat, while playing outfield provided him with opportunities to throw deep with accuracy.

The comparisons might be a touch labored, but this is still fascinating.