NFL Draft Rumors: Blake Bortles an option for New England Patriots at 29?

Jan 1, 2014; Glendale, AZ, USA; Central Florida Knights quarterback Blake Bortles (5) against the Baylor Bears during the Fiesta Bowl at University of Phoenix Stadium. Central Florida defeated Baylor 52-42. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /

The New England Patriots’ interest in quarterbacks in the 2014 NFL Draft has surprised many.

However, Tom Brady is 36 years old and the Patriots could prefer to take a quarterback to sit behind Brady for a few a years so that he is ready to play when Brady moves on.

Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports wonders if the Patriots could select former Central Florida Knights’ signal-caller Blake Bortles provided he drops to 29.

"Add in the fact guys like Carson Palmer and Tom Brady and Drew Brees and Peyton Manning aren’t getting any younger, and I continue to believe a team might just grab one of these guys late in the first round. Seeing Bortles land somewhere no one expected, for instance — if he’s the guy who falls — wouldn’t surprise me at all. If the Texans don’t trade down a few spots to take him at the top of the first round, might New England grab him at the end of the first? (Texans coach Bill O’Brien has strong Patriots ties and I could see them liking the same kinds of passers, for instance)."

Bortles completed 259 of 382 passes for 3,581 yards with 25 touchdowns and nine interceptions in 2013.

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