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NFL power rankings: Starting quarterbacks from best to worst

By John Buhler

Jan 22, 2017; Atlanta, GA, USA; Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) throws against the Atlanta Falcons during the second quarter in the 2017 NFC Championship Game at the Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 22, 2017; Atlanta, GA, USA; Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) throws against the Atlanta Falcons during the second quarter in the 2017 NFC Championship Game at the Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 24, 2016; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles (5) throws a pass during the third 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 third quarter of an NFL Football game against the Tennessee Titans at EverBank Field. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports /
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Blake Bortles

Quarterback, Jacksonville Jaguars

Was 2015 a mirage or is Blake Bortles not cut out to be an NFL starting quarterback? Bortles has had his ups and mostly downs quarterbacking the Jacksonville Jaguars since being their No. 3 overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft out of Central Florida.

He the build, arm strength and mobility to be a franchise quarterback. However, his mechanics resolve to sloppiness far too often and his Jaguars don’t win enough games for this experiment to continue much longer. In 45 games as a starter, Bortles is 11-34 as the Jaguars quarterback.

Through three NFL seasons, Bortles has completed 58.8 percent of his throws for 11,241 yards, 69 touchdowns and 51 interceptions. Statistically, Bortles has been serviceable as a starter, but his franchise has been down for far too long for him to have more than the 2017 NFL season to right the sinking ship.

Bortles is at his best when he is able to throw the ball deep to his wideouts. He needs the big, home-run play to bail him out on otherwise lackadaisical drives in the Jaguars offense. What has hurt him more than anything is that he gets off to slow starts in games and usually has to play from behind.

2017 is a make or break year for Bortles as Jacksonville’s starting quarterback. If he plays like he did in 2015, he’ll get another year to start for the Jaguars. Should it be 2016 all over again, then it is time for the Jaguars to move on and find their next heir apparent to Mark Brunell.

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