NFL Draft 2014: Blake Bortles believes he can learn by watching

May 9, 2014; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Blake Bortles (Central Florida) addresses the media at the Upper West Touchdown Club at EverBank Field a day after being selected as the third overall pick in the first round of the 2014 NFL draft by the Jacksonville Jaguars. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
May 9, 2014; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Blake Bortles (Central Florida) addresses the media at the Upper West Touchdown Club at EverBank Field a day after being selected as the third overall pick in the first round of the 2014 NFL draft by the Jacksonville Jaguars. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
May 9, 2014; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Blake Bortles (Central Florida) addresses the media at the Upper West Touchdown Club at EverBank Field a day after being selected as the third overall pick in the first round of the 2014 NFL draft by the Jacksonville Jaguars. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
May 9, 2014; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Blake Bortles (Central Florida) addresses the media at the Upper West Touchdown Club at EverBank Field a day after being selected as the third overall pick in the first round of the 2014 NFL draft by the Jacksonville Jaguars. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports /

Last night, there were three quarterbacks chosen in the first round of the NFL draft. The first was Blake Bortles, chosen with the third pick overall by the Jaguars.

Former Colts GM Bill Polian has talked in the past about how if you are a top choice at quarterback, you need to play right away. For what it’s worth, Bortles doesn’t agree, and feels he can learn a great deal as a backup:

"I think a ton. If you look at guys in the past, guys have performed better and had better careers if they were understuides and sat for a year. If I sit for a year or two years, however long it is, being able to absorb and learn and be a sponge and soak everything up"

What a refreshing way to hear a young player speak, isn’t it? It’s nice to hear a player that isn’t wrapped up in his own ego, and willing to join the league, and learn from the players before him.

It will serve Bortles well.