Maybe I'm oversimplifying things here - but here is how I see things.
As draftnics, we develop (often pretty early in the process) our favorites and those guys that we just can't stand. Mostly its based on what we see on Saturdays, sometimes its a personality thing, sometimes its the eyeball test, sometimes the measurables, sometimes we are swayed by what the draft media has to say, usually a combination of these things.
I will readily admit that my biases exist and they sway me wildly. I find myself disregarding red flags on my guys and accentuating red flags on the guys that I don't like. I do not have a fair and balanced system when it comes to assessing red flags - the guys I like get a pass and the guys I don't get blasted. And I don't think I'm on my own with this.
Having said that, I think that in the real world you just can't assess character red flags without getting to actually meet the player. You can learn a lot from police reports, interviewing old coaches, teammates, teachers - but you just can't make a real character evaluation without a face to face conversation.
With Winston, I don't like his rap sheet (especially when the investigations that didn't lead to charges are considered). I fully believe that FSU bends over to protect their players. I do suspect that Winston has been one of those kids who has been worshiped since high school and that he has some entitlement issues.
But I also see a kid who suited up to play when the entire sports world was watching and wagging their fingers. He had very public very serious allegations against him and he played thru it. He has played from behind many times and played thru it. His teammates follow him. His coaches love him. He understands football and he is really good at it.
Would I hire him to watch my kids? No.
Can he be my QB and even the face of my football team? Absolutely.