Ian Rapoport of NFL Media would not be surprised if Blake Bortles returns as the Jaguars’ starting quarterback in 2018.
According to Rapoport, Jacksonville against paying Bortles the $19 million he’s owed for the 2018 season. Rapoport adds that the Jaguars believe in Bortles much more than many may expect and he has played himself in a position to be the team’s starter next season.
Bortles, 25, was taken with the No. 3 overall pick by the Jaguars back in 2014. He’s currently in the final year of his four-year, $20,654,796 rookie contract and stands to make a base salary of $3,236,565 for the 2017 season.
The Jaguars picked up his fifth-year option and will run them around $19,053,000 for the 2018 season, but is guaranteed only for injury. After that, Bortles will be a free agent in 2019.
In 2017, Bortles appeared in 16 games for the Jaguars and threw for 3,687 yards while completing 60.2 percent of his passes to go along with 21 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. He also rushed for 322 yards and two scores. Pro Football Focus has him rated as the No. 18 quarterback out of 40 qualifying players.
We’ll have more regarding Bortles’ future in Jacksonville as the news is available.
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