Is Blake Bortles a lost cause for the Jaguars? Mike Wells of ESPN.com seems to think so, writing that the team made a big mistake by exercising his fifth-year option for $19MM+ in 2018. Making matters worse, he writes, the Jaguars did not bring in a quarterback to compete with him and push him to perform better this offseason. Jags beat writer Michael DiRocco, meanwhile, has given up on the notion that Bortles can be an elite quarterback, saying that his ceiling could be in the Brian Hoyer/Matt Cassel/Jon Kitna range.
In his three NFL seasons, Bortles has 69 touchdowns against 51 interceptions with an 11-34 record. The onus is now on the 25-year-old to prove that he should be the man under center for Jacksonville. If not, he might be looking for work elsewhere after this season since the fifth-year option is guaranteed for injury only.
Here’s more out of the AFC:
- Tackle Ben Ijalana now has to prove that he is worth the Jets‘ $11MM investment, Brian Costello of the New York Post writes. Last year, Ijalana stepped into the left tackle spot after Ryan Clady went down and wound up making 13 starts. This offseason, the Jets gave him a two-year, $11MM deal to keep him in the fold. Given the lack of playing time he saw in his first few seasons, it’s hard to know exactly what the Jets have in Ijalana, even though he put in significant minutes in all 16 games last season. There’s also the advanced metrics to consider. Ijalana earned a 47.6 overall score from Pro Football Focus last year, ranking him as the No. 60 tackle in the NFL last year out of 78 qualified players.
- After re-signing with the Ravens on a five-year, $52.5MM contract, Brandon Williams says he wants to be more of an every down player, ESPN.com’s Jamison Hensley writes. “I need to get my sacks up,” Williams said. “I need to get my pass-rushing up. I am excited. I just had a meeting with our D-line coach, Coach [Joe] Cullen yesterday, about me kind of fine-tuning. I have the run-stop. I could still work on it, obviously, but I’m more just trying to work on my pass rush, trying to get out there and do the best I can.” Williams has had only 4.5 sacks in his four NFL seasons. Last season, ten interior lineman had five or more sacks and that’s a group that Williams is presumably hoping to join. His deal, which averages $10.8MM per season, is the highest of any nose tackle in the NFL and puts him No. 8 among all defensive tackles.
- Who do you think should be the Browns‘ starting quarterback in 2017? Click here to weigh in.
Bortles is done after THIS year if he doesn’t prove himself. His contract for 2018 is only injury guaranteed so it makes sense for the jags to pick it up in case he turns it around. If not he can be cut if he passes a physical. Poorly written and misleading post. Picking up his option was a minimal commitment.
Don’t know much about the Jags. Does Bortles have playmakers around him?
Yes…..Jags offense is loaded with playmakers actually.
Allen Robinson,Allen Hurns,Marquise Lee and now Dede Westbrook make for a very above average WR corp.
Now did Leonard Fournette to Chris Ivory and TJ Yeldon at RB and Bortles has no more excuses.
They even added a Pro Bowl LT in Brandon Albert and drafted a top OL in the draft in Cam Robinson.So the left side of the line is improved.
This is why Bortles future is completely on him now!
Bortles is fine! He’s been mugged 140 times since getting the job. Imagine 140 sacks plus home many pressures. He’s the second coming
Of David Carr.
Tell Michael Wells to shut up!!
Here is what I like about the Jaguars and Bortles situation- Patience. In today’s world, too many young quarterbacks get a chance, the team’s record sucks, the coach puts in a veteran scrub to save his job, coach gets fired anyways, and the young quarterback either learns a new system or is jettisoned. It’s a nasty Carla soul. If Bortles continues to fail, it is on him. I would love to say it on the line and maybe ultimately is since his technique is nothing close to what made him a first round pick. None the less, he has had ample opportunity to figure it out.