Blake Bortles: Is he the Jaguars franchise QB?

By Evan Massey | Feb 4, 2015

Dec 18, 2014; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles (5) throws the ball against the Tennessee Titans during the first quarter at EverBank Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

Is Blake Bortles the right guy to be the Jacksonville Jaguars‘ franchise quarterback moving forward after his rookie season?

Blake Bortles was selected with the third overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft and the Jacksonville Jaguars didn’t want to start him immediately this season. They were hoping that Chad Henne would be able to shoulder the starting load for the majority of the season, but that didn’t end up happening.

More from Jacksonville Jaguars

When everything was said and done, Bortles played in 14 regular season games during his rookie season for the Jaguars.

During those 14 regular season games, Bortles ended up throwing for 2,908 yards, 11 touchdowns, and a troubling 17 interceptions. It wasn’t a good season to say the least, but there were some bright spots to focus on through the bad. He will need to focus on his decision-making, but he has all the physical tools to be a very successful NFL quarterback.

So the question then becomes, is Bortles the right guy for the Jaguars to build around at the quarterback position moving forward?

If he wants to be that type of quarterback, Bortles is going to need to improve his game from the shoulders up. His arm is strong enough and it has the type of accuracy to be very dangerous if he can make better decisions. There is no question that he has the potential to turn things around, but he’ll have to get in the film room and focus much more on that side of the game.

Jacksonville has put some very talented wide receivers around him in Allen Robinson, Marqise Lee, Allen Hurns, Cecil Shorts III, and now the possibility of Justin Blackmon coming back. Denard Robinson was a much improved running back this past year as well. The pieces are there for Bortles to be a very good quarterback.

At just 22 years of age, it is understandable that Bortles is still having issues figuring out the mental aspect of the game. It can take years for players to fully understand that side of the NFL.

Is he their franchise quarterback in the making? At this point in time, it appears that he will be and has all of the tools to get to that point. Jacksonville chose him over any other quarterback available because of the physical tools that he has been working with and he is a very impressive quarterback on that side of things.

Not only does he have the talent to become a very talented quarterback through the air, he is also capable of making plays with his legs. He rushed for 419 yards on 56 attempts this past season, and that gives the Jaguars even more options on the offensive side of the football.

All of that being said, the first season can’t be ignored but it also can not be overreacted to. Bortles showed the physical ability to become a very good starting quarterback, but the mental game needs to improve. If that area of his game improves by getting into the film room and studying the game, he will be exactly what the Jaguars were hoping to get when they drafted him.

More from FanSided

Home/Jacksonville Jaguars