Post-Combine 2014 NFL Mock Draft – Jaguars Get a Quarterback

Jan 1, 2014; Glendale, AZ, USA; Central Florida Knights quarterback Blake Bortles (5) against the Baylor Bears during the Fiesta Bowl at University of Phoenix Stadium. Central Florida defeated Baylor 52-42. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

We continue our weekly look at mock drafts around the Fansided network by checking in on our friends over at With the First Pick. Joe Mazzulo recently shook things up after some of the performances at the combine, and here’s what he had the Jaguars doing with the third overall pick.

"3. Jacksonville JaguarsBlake BortlesQuarterback, Central FloridaWhy this works for Jacksonville: The Jaguars have been searching for a franchise quarterback for over a decade and in that span have suffered through two top ten busts in Byron Leftwich in 2003 and Blaine Gabbert in 2011. The Jaguars could reignite the passion of their fan base by adding Bortles from near by UCF and giving the David Caldwell/Gus Bradley regime a face of the franchise. Why this works for Bortles: The Jaguars have some decent pieces to support their new quarterback with including 2013 2nd overall pick Luke Joeckel at left tackle, wide receiver Cecil Shorts, and tight end Marcedes Lewis. Their is also the troubled yet talented Justin Blackmon at wide receiver along with emerging playmaker Ace Sanders in the slot. Bortles should not face much competition for the starting job and will have a very low bar in terms of expectations after what Jacksonville has been dealing with in recent years."

Joe has Jacksonville selecting Bortles after Jadeveon Clowney and Greg Robinson go off the board with the first and second pick respectively. So with all 3 of the top quarterbacks available, Joe seems to think the Jaguars will decide Bortles is the top guy over Teddy Bridgewater and Johnny Manziel. I personally still think Bridgewater is at another level in terms of mental makeup, accuracy, and pocket awareness, and the performances at the combine didn’t affect my evaluation of any of the top prospects.

Regardless, I enjoy seeing all these mock drafts where Teddy Bridgewater is available for the Jaguars. I hope it turns out that way come May.

-Daniel Lago

Yell at me on Twitter @dlago89