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Jacksonville Jaguars rumors: Blake Bortles’ option to be declined

By Brad Berreman

Dec 24, 2016; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles (5) throws a pass during the second quarter of an NFL Football game against the Tennessee Titans at EverBank Field. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 24, 2016; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles (5) throws a pass during the second quarter of an NFL Football game against the Tennessee Titans at EverBank Field. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports /
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If it wasn’t already obvious, 2017 is looking like a make-or-break season for Blake Bortles.

His garbage time numbers were noteworthy, but there’s no denying how productive Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles was in 2015. A career-high 4,428 passing yards (seventh in the league and 35 touchdowns (tied for second-most in the league) pointed to progress, and the Jaguars were a popular sleeper team heading into last season.

But Bortles dropped off dramatically in 2016, with 3,905 passing yards, 23 touchdowns and almost a full yard less per pass attempt (6.2) compared to 2015. New Jaguars’ executive vice president Tom Coughlin has not offered any great endorsement of Bortles, and general Manager David Caldwell said a decision on a fifth-year contract option won’t be made until close to the deadline in early May.

Bortles is facing no competition for the starting job right now, though there are a couple veteran options out there that could provide some. His long-term future in Jacksonville is up in the air though, however obviously, and Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times Union has flat-out predicted the Jaguars won’t pick up Bortles’ contract option for 2018.

Bortles has been working to fix some mechanical flaws this offseason, which could have come as a residual of being sacked 106 times over his first two seasons. The Jaguars still don’t have a great offensive line, but they did trade for Branden Albert in an effort to find an upgrade at left tackle.

Related Story: 5 possible replacements for Blake Bortles in Jacksonville

Bortles has turned the ball over 63 times in his three NFL seasons, which correlates easily to his dismal 11-34 record as starter. Heading clearly into a make-or-break season, a combination of taking care of the ball better and a rebound back toward 2015’s numbers should bolster Jacksonville’s win total. If Bortles is not up that task all the way around, the Jaguars may already be preparing to find someone who can be going forward.

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