Blake Bortles might have been a laughingstock in Jacksonville, but with the Los Angeles Rams, he could prove critical to another Super Bowl run.
The Los Angeles Rams are set not just at the starting quarterback position but at backup as well. Fourth-year quarterback Jared Goff is secure heading into the 2019 season and for the foreseeable future. The good news for fans is that they look pretty solid at the backup position as well.
Blake Bortles, the much-maligned quarterback and one-time Jacksonville Jaguars signal-caller, sits behind Goff and will benefit tons via his one year deal in Los Angeles. Bortles, who has become something of a quarterback caricature, finds himself in the right place at the right time as he looks to rehabilitate an NFL career on the brink.
Rams head coach Sean McVay continues to be the beneficiary of good fortune. Less than five months removed from a Super Bowl appearance, a second NFC West title and optimism in abundance, the third-year head coach is primed for another deep run.
Believe it or not, Bortles might be a gatekeeper for such a run. For LA fans who might scoff at such a thought, think of running back Todd Gurley riding a stationary bike on the sidelines during the NFC Championship Game. Sinking in yet?
Bortles is a big step in the right direction from Sean Mannion. In a 2019 season where the Rams will be a logical choice for another championship run, history dictates that quality at the backup quarterback position is a must.
Goff, who won’t face much if any of a challenge in Los Angeles for the starting spot, gets another offseason as the incumbent. Bortles, who is a reclamation project with a lot of upside, knows his playing time is an audition for 2020. That aside, he’s also a tremendous insurance policy for a contender who’s been down this road before.
Bortles is essentially C.J. Anderson, available on the bench for 16 games. This is an advantage for the Rams and don’t let anyone tell you differently. Los Angeles, already a talent-rich team on both offense and defense, may have the best quarterback situation in the NFL. In a league where legitimate contenders are defined by depth, the Rams run deep at quarterback.
McVay looks to have another team targeting a Super Bowl. After a season where the best offensive weapon was essentially a no-show due to injury, Bortles could be the most important player on the depth chart.
Credit the Rams for finding the right fix heading into Week 16 last season. It’s a good argument that, without Anderson, Los Angeles wasn’t in Atlanta to play the New England Patriots for the Lombardi Trophy.
Bortles may be the consummate eye roll for NFL fans. That said, should the Los Angeles Rams find themselves in need of good quarterback play in a pinch, having experience in Bortles versus the question mark in Mannion is good fortune too many NFL teams don’t have.