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Blake Bortles: 5 possible replacements in Jacksonville

By Brad Berreman

Oct 23, 2016; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles (5) reacts after a play in the second half against the Oakland Raiders at EverBank Field. Oakland Raiders won 33-16. Mandatory Credit: Logan Bowles-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 23, 2016; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles (5) reacts after a play in the second half against the Oakland Raiders at EverBank Field. Oakland Raiders won 33-16. Mandatory Credit: Logan Bowles-USA TODAY Sports /
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Chad Kelly, Shea Patterson, Ole Miss Rebels
Mandatory Credit: Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Chad Kelly

A torn ACL and lateral meniscus in his right knee ended Kelly’s final season at Ole Miss early, so he won’t be fully able to physically participate in the pre-draft process. But he was pretty good in nine games last season, throwing for 2,758 yards with 19 touchdown passes, and Kelly topped 4,000 yards through the air with 31 touchdown passes in 2015.

Kelly is clearly a late-round draft pick for 2017, with an eye toward him contributing when he’s fully healthy in future seasons. If he can adequately address off the field issues from his college days, when confronted with them by NFL teams, Kelly’s injury and his ongoing recovery heading into next season will be the only real concern going forward.

The Jaguars could choose to use a late-round pick on a quarterback for the second straight year, and like Brandon Allen Kelly comes out of an SEC school. As a long-term prospect, with a clear eye toward 2018 and beyond, Kelly could be on Jacksonville’s Day 3 draft radar this spring.

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