The Jacksonville Jaguars

[thelakelander]

That doesn't break down enough info. It only looks at overall numbers. Half the guys on that list missed a few games due to injury. Also, since when can a QB not manage a play clock on the field? Anyway, great season. However, some growth is needed offensively to get over the hump. Many teams will be much better next year with the return of quality starters that were lost early in the season.

[Steve]

Honestly, I can't believe I'm saying this but I'd tighten the strap on the Bortles Saddle at least for the next few years. I'm not in love with any of the free agent options, and a rookie is going to be 2 years likely. How long can they realistically hold the defense together?

I'd draft a journeyman for the long term, but for 2018 I think I'm with Blake.

[thelakelander]

Are there any trades out there to be made for a seasoned veteran for a win now push?

[Wacca Pilatka]

So damn conflicted...I was probably the number one Bortles critic alive. But something about him lately...I just can´t get enough of. If he can continue to play as well has he played in the first half of the last game, or like he played against the Steelers...I want that man at the helm. But his inconsistency is alarming. ... . ..

I think a lot of people feel that way, and I think a main part of the reason is the extraordinary amount of criticism Bortles has received and the class and dignity with which he's handled it.

He's an unpredictable, inconsistent, high-variance, but overall about league-average quarterback who inexplicably has been cast as the worst quarterback in history.  One sportswriter called him a human punchline, and many use him as one routinely.  There's a sitcom on NBC with a running joke that its least intelligent character thinks Bortles is the greatest QB of all time.  Players from other teams regularly refuse to give him any credit and speak of him as though he's incompetent.

Through it all, he's reacted with rare graciousness and refused to talk back to his critics.  It's clear his teammates would run through a wall for him because of it (see, e.g., the Calais Campbell/Malik Jackson video answering back to Jurrell Casey, or Marcedes' recent column in the Players Tribune). 

I found nothing so moving and painful to watch in that loss as Bortles tearing up at the end.  After he showed so much stoicism and perseverance all year, to see him break like that was crushing.  And much as I've been frustrated with him at times, much as I've fantasized about how this team would've been a sure Super Bowl champion with certain other QBs, dadgum it, this whole experience made me want us to win it with Blake and let him stick it to everybody.

Whatever happens, I think he's ten times the man that some of these jackass critics like Chris Simms who call him trash ever will be.  And seeing him unfairly criticized and turned into a punch line, only to respond with pugnacious resolve and a few surprises for his opponents, somehow makes him the perfect embodiment of the city of Jacksonville in a lot of ways.

[FlaBoy]

I think you either go after Cousins and lock him into a longterm deal that will likely be pretty standard in 5-6 years. He has passed for 26-28 tds and between 4,100-4,700 yards for the past three seasons. Either Cousins, or you try to make a deal for Alex Smith who passed for 4,000 yards and 26 tds this year. He will be 34 next year and seems to have another 3-4 years in him.

I think you stick with 25 year old Bortles over 37 year old Eli Manning. It also looks like the Giants want to keep him around.

The only other option would be to trade for a Sam Bradford or Teddy Bridgewater is Case Keenom is really the guy in Minnesota.

[Steve]

Are there any trades out there to be made for a seasoned veteran for a win now push?

I mean, Kirk Cousins? Alex Smith? One of the Minnesota QB? I guess. Here's my thing:

- The Delay of Game is totally on Blake. That can't happen. Take a timeout if you have to.
- The coaching staff doesn't seem to trust Blake, yet. Personally, I think they need to - or dump him. If you don't trust your QB and he's not a rookie it's an issue.
- The 4th down pass to Westbrook was underthrown. His timing still isn't perfect and he still tends to underthrow or not lead a receiver properly.
- His mobility is excellent. Marrone said that the Patriots schemed their defense to take away the run which limited those options, but otherwise his legs are an asset.
- In the playoffs, he never made the BIG mistake. No turnovers, no colossally stupid passes. Maybe a couple near misses were aggressive, but that's it.

The Allen Robinson injury was a killer. While not a true #1, he's their best receiver and they got to the Conference Championship. They also don't have a truly dynamic Tight End. Finally, the Line wasn't nearly as good as their #1 rushing offense ranking. The line looked good because of Blake's legs and a few long runs and fake punts.

[Steve]

I think you either go after Cousins and lock him into a longterm deal that will likely be pretty standard in 5-6 years. He has passed for 26-28 tds and between 4,100-4,700 yards for the past three seasons. Either Cousins, or you try to make a deal for Alex Smith who passed for 4,000 yards and 26 tds this year. He will be 34 next year and seems to have another 3-4 years in him.

I think you stick with 25 year old Bortles over 37 year old Eli Manning. It also looks like the Giants want to keep him around.

The only other option would be to trade for a Sam Bradford or Teddy Bridgewater is Case Keenom is really the guy in Minnesota.

My thought? A 3 year deal, which isn't guaranteed so if he regresses again you can dump him after next year. No one in the league is going to give him a 5-6 year deal so there's no incentive to do that. Give him a 3 year/$45M deal and call it a day.

[FlaBoy]

Are there any trades out there to be made for a seasoned veteran for a win now push?

I mean, Kirk Cousins? Alex Smith? One of the Minnesota QB? I guess. Here's my thing:

- The Delay of Game is totally on Blake. That can't happen. Take a timeout if you have to.
- The coaching staff doesn't seem to trust Blake, yet. Personally, I think they need to - or dump him. If you don't trust your QB and he's not a rookie it's an issue.
- The 4th down pass to Westbrook was underthrown. His timing still isn't perfect and he still tends to underthrow or not lead a receiver properly.
- His mobility is excellent. Marrone said that the Patriots schemed their defense to take away the run which limited those options, but otherwise his legs are an asset.
- In the playoffs, he never made the BIG mistake. No turnovers, no colossally stupid passes. Maybe a couple near misses were aggressive, but that's it.

The Allen Robinson injury was a killer. While not a true #1, he's their best receiver and they got to the Conference Championship. They also don't have a truly dynamic Tight End. Finally, the Line wasn't nearly as good as their #1 rushing offense ranking. The line looked good because of Blake's legs and a few long runs and fake punts.

Say what you want about Cousins, he has been a statistically top 8-12 QB in the NFL for the past three seasons. The 'Skins were gutted this past year of offensive talent and had an awful o-line. Cousins still balled.

With an oline that had him the 5th most sacked QB in the game, he was #7 in total yards, #8 in tds,  and #9 in completion percentage, and #12 in QB rating.

Last year, with a better team around him, he was #3 in total yards, #13 in tds, #8 in completion percentage, and #7 in QB rating.

In 2015, #5 in QB rating, #10 in yards, #12 in tds, and #1 in completion percentage.

He is gritty and has a fire on offense that will help take them up a notch. He is also only 29 so he has a solid 7-8 years left barring injury.

[ben says]

So damn conflicted...I was probably the number one Bortles critic alive. But something about him lately...I just can´t get enough of. If he can continue to play as well has he played in the first half of the last game, or like he played against the Steelers...I want that man at the helm. But his inconsistency is alarming. ... . ..

I think a lot of people feel that way, and I think a main part of the reason is the extraordinary amount of criticism Bortles has received and the class and dignity with which he's handled it.

He's an unpredictable, inconsistent, high-variance, but overall about league-average quarterback who inexplicably has been cast as the worst quarterback in history.  One sportswriter called him a human punchline, and many use him as one routinely.  There's a sitcom on NBC with a running joke that its least intelligent character thinks Bortles is the greatest QB of all time.  Players from other teams regularly refuse to give him any credit and speak of him as though he's incompetent.

Through it all, he's reacted with rare graciousness and refused to talk back to his critics.  It's clear his teammates would run through a wall for him because of it (see, e.g., the Calais Campbell/Malik Jackson video answering back to Jurrell Casey, or Marcedes' recent column in the Players Tribune). 

I found nothing so moving and painful to watch in that loss as Bortles tearing up at the end.  After he showed so much stoicism and perseverance all year, to see him break like that was crushing.  And much as I've been frustrated with him at times, much as I've fantasized about how this team would've been a sure Super Bowl champion with certain other QBs, dadgum it, this whole experience made me want us to win it with Blake and let him stick it to everybody.

Whatever happens, I think he's ten times the man that some of these jackass critics like Chris Simms who call him trash ever will be.  And seeing him unfairly criticized and turned into a punch line, only to respond with pugnacious resolve and a few surprises for his opponents, somehow makes him the perfect embodiment of the city of Jacksonville in a lot of ways.

Couldn´t have said it better myself.

[Steve]

Are there any trades out there to be made for a seasoned veteran for a win now push?

I mean, Kirk Cousins? Alex Smith? One of the Minnesota QB? I guess. Here's my thing:

- The Delay of Game is totally on Blake. That can't happen. Take a timeout if you have to.
- The coaching staff doesn't seem to trust Blake, yet. Personally, I think they need to - or dump him. If you don't trust your QB and he's not a rookie it's an issue.
- The 4th down pass to Westbrook was underthrown. His timing still isn't perfect and he still tends to underthrow or not lead a receiver properly.
- His mobility is excellent. Marrone said that the Patriots schemed their defense to take away the run which limited those options, but otherwise his legs are an asset.
- In the playoffs, he never made the BIG mistake. No turnovers, no colossally stupid passes. Maybe a couple near misses were aggressive, but that's it.

The Allen Robinson injury was a killer. While not a true #1, he's their best receiver and they got to the Conference Championship. They also don't have a truly dynamic Tight End. Finally, the Line wasn't nearly as good as their #1 rushing offense ranking. The line looked good because of Blake's legs and a few long runs and fake punts.

Say what you want about Cousins, he has been a statistically top 8-12 QB in the NFL for the past three seasons. The 'Skins were gutted this past year of offensive talent and had an awful o-line. Cousins still balled.

With an oline that had him the 5th most sacked QB in the game, he was #7 in total yards, #8 in tds,  and #9 in completion percentage, and #12 in QB rating.

Last year, with a better team around him, he was #3 in total yards, #13 in tds, #8 in completion percentage, and #7 in QB rating.

In 2015, #5 in QB rating, #10 in yards, #12 in tds, and #1 in completion percentage.

He is gritty and has a fire on offense that will help take them up a notch. He is also only 29 so he has a solid 7-8 years left barring injury.

Stats don't tell the whole story. Bortles was statistically the #4 QB in 2015.

[KenFSU]

I found nothing so moving and painful to watch in that loss as Bortles tearing up at the end.  After he showed so much stoicism and perseverance all year, to see him break like that was crushing.  And much as I've been frustrated with him at times, much as I've fantasized about how this team would've been a sure Super Bowl champion with certain other QBs, dadgum it, this whole experience made me want us to win it with Blake and let him stick it to everybody.

Whatever happens, I think he's ten times the man that some of these jackass critics like Chris Simms who call him trash ever will be.  And seeing him unfairly criticized and turned into a punch line, only to respond with pugnacious resolve and a few surprises for his opponents, somehow makes him the perfect embodiment of the city of Jacksonville in a lot of ways.

Absolutely love this.

And I totally agree that Blake Bortles is Jacksonville.

Plus, he's shown incredible improvement this year, his teammates love him, the world is catching on to how marketable he is, and - as Shad Khan is quick to point out - he's just a genuinely good guy.

Oh, and he led a 3-13 team to within one quarter of the Super Bowl.

Blake's my QB for 2018.

Call me crazy, but I'd rather lose the AFC Championship with Bortles as my QB than win the Super Bowl with Tom Brady.

[thelakelander]

You're crazy! ;-)

[MusicMan]

Remind me, what other QB's were taken after Blake the year he was drafted.........

[Tacachale]

Remind me, what other QB's were taken after Blake the year he was drafted.........

1st Round:
Johnny Manziel (!)
Teddy Bridgewater

2nd Round:
Derek Carr
Jimmy Garoppolo

4th Round:
Logan Thomas
Tom Savage

5th Round:
Aaron Murray
AJ McCarron

6th Round:
Zach Mettenberger
David Fales
Keith Wenning
Tajh Boyd
Garrett Gilbert

[Wacca Pilatka]

^ Not sure if you're asking out of genuine curiosity or attempting to set up a Jimmy Garappolo or Derek Carr end-zone dance.

Manziel and Bridgewater went in the first, Carr and Jimmy G in the second, Tom Savage in the fourth, a few others who are still kicking around the league afterward.  McCarron, I guess, might have starter potential.

I don't think that anyone's trying to make the argument that Blake is the superior or most polished QB to come out of that draft, just that a lot of us find him endearing.

I'd also note that a few of the 2014 and 2015 draft QBs who have been considered far superior to Blake as articles of faith - Carr, Winston, Mariota - all regressed quite a bit this year. 

QBs do not emerge from the head of Zeus, fully formed and at their developmental peak.  Drew Brees looked borderline incompetent for three years, Alex Smith for longer than that.  Others look fantastic for a year or two, then flame out.

Even Brady was more an efficient/error-free guy who allowed his defense to carry the team in 2001 before he developed into a serial killer of others' dreams.  Yes, yes, I know, magical game-winning drive and perfect strike to Troy Brown and clock management etc. etc.

It's entirely possible that a couple years from now, the decision to draft Blake will look better than it does today.  And even today, I don't think he's objectively worse than Carr, Winston, Teddy, or the criminally overrated Mariota.  Certainly he's taken a team deeper into the playoffs than any of those guys has...and certainly the commentators like Gruden and Bayless who castigated us for not taking Manziel wouldn't have made the better choice.