It's the smart play for Winston. He's damaged goods right now. The league sees him (justifiably) as a talented head case, an interception machine that cannot and will not lead a team to a championship.
A year at the best QB grad school in the league is just what the doctor ordered for him. Professors Brees and Payton will not tolerate any nonsense in their seminar and if Winston can remake himself even somewhat in the mold of Brees, that will address the precise concerns over preparation, leadership and mental make up that has league GMs down on Winston right now. He has the physical talent, but he needs a character make over. Don't know if that's possible, but right now he's a former number one overall pick sliding toward the XFL. If that doesn't sober him up this year, nothing will.