Jacksonville Jaguars: Who will back up Blake Bortles in 2018?
By Larry Brake
The Jacksonville Jaguars face a daunting question this offseason. Who will be Blake Bortles’ backup quarterback next season should he remain the starter?
Blake Bortles should be the starting quarterback for the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2018. He earned the nod because of his solid play throughout the season and playoffs. In the three playoff games, Bortles threw 49 passes for 594 yards with three touchdowns and zero interceptions.
Bortles has not missed a game due to injury in his career. As a rookie, in 2014, he replaced current backup quarterback Chad Henne as the starter. Since then, Henne has thrown two incomplete passes and has taken a couple of knees to end halves.
Henne signed a one year contract for the 2017 season. According to Spotrac.com, his deal was worth $3.25 million. He will become an unrestricted free agent in March. Will Henne be back or will Jacksonville let him walk away? Henne turns 33 years old this summer. Perhaps there is someone in the draft that Jacksonville is eyeing.
Richmond prospect Kyle Lauletta played well in the Senior Bowl on Saturday. Lauletta threw eight passes for 198 yards and three touchdowns with zero interceptions. Daniel Jeremiah of NFL.com noticed Lauletta’s play by reporting:
"…but Lauletta…were the two biggest winners of Saturday. With all the attention on the other QBs, they stepped up in a big way and showed they have starting traits. They possess plenty of poise, anticipation, timing and accuracy. …"
Lauletta should be available in the third round, if Jacksonville decides to draft a quarterback. Another player that the Jaguars might look at drafting is Lamar Jackson. Both Lauletta and Jackson are physically similar, by standing six foot three and weighing over 200 pounds. Jackson won the 2016 Heisman Trophy as a sophomore at Louisville. Most of all, Jackson is a dual threat. He threw for over 3,600 yards and ran for over 1,500 yards.
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Either Lauletta or Jackson would be an upgrade over Henne. Expect the front office to bring in younger talent to push Bortles. Whether through the draft or through free agency, there will be a new backup quarterback in Jacksonville.