Power ranking all 32 NFL starting quarterbacks for 2018

Power ranking all 32 NFL starting quarterbacks

CHARLOTTE, NC - DECEMBER 17: Aaron Rodgers #12 of the Green Bay Packers looks to the sideline against the Carolina Panthers in the fourth quarter during their game at Bank of America Stadium on December 17, 2017 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /

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JACKSONVILLE, FL – AUGUST 09: Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles (5) runs out on the field during the game between the New Orleans Saints and the Jacksonville Jaguars on August 9, 2018 at TIAA Bank Field in Jacksonville, Fl. (Photo by David Rosenblum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

29. Blake Bortles, Jacksonville Jaguars

Every bit of the Jaguars roster aside from the quarterback position screams Super Bowl contender. Unfortunately, Bortles is there to weigh the Jacksonville offense down and limit the team’s considerable ceiling.

Bortles enjoyed the best season of his brief career in 2017, but he is as vanilla as NFL quarterbacks come. He threw for 3,687 yards on the campaign but only averaged seven yards per completion. When he tries to push the ball down the field it just doesn’t work.

The simple truth is Bortles should be able to do more with the offensive talent that surrounds him. The Jaguars running game can absolutely punish opponents. All Bortles needs to do is take care of the football and punish opponents via play action. The fact that he can’t manage to do that effectively is a big problem for Doug Marrone and company.

If everything goes right for Bortles this year, he might be able to crack the NFL’s top 20. That simply isn’t a high enough ceiling for a starter on a team with legitimate Super Bowl aspirations. Don’t be surprised if the Jaguars move on from Bortles if he doesn’t take a massive step forward this year. They may need to face the reality that he’s just not the long-term answer at quarterback.