Jacksonville Jaguars: When will Blake Bortles get paid?
By Luke Sims
Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles will certainly be paid like one of the best young quarterbacks in the coming seasons, but when will that happen?
Andrew Luck made headlines when he signed the largest deal in NFL history a week ago. This wasn’t shocking considering his talent and profound influence over the future of the Indianapolis Colts.
The deal naturally led to speculation on who would be the next quarterbacks to make lucrative deals with their respective teams. Cameron DaSilva at Fox Sports proposed six quarterbacks in line for big pay days; chief among them being Jacksonville Jaguars QB Blake Bortles.
Entering just his third season in the NFL, it’s no secret that Bortles has the raw ability to be one of the better quarterbacks in the NFL. He’s working to refine his game and made huge strides from 2014 to 2015, going from one of the worst quarterbacks statistically to one of the best.
There’s still room to grow for Bortles. Assuming he continues to show progress like he did between years one and two, he’ll probably end up as indispensable to the Jags as Luck is to the Colts.
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Still able to pick up the fifth-year option on their 2014 first round pick, the Jags aren’t pressed for time in offering Bortles a massive new deal. He’ll play out for the next couple of seasons before anything major is likely to be announced, so don’t expect any headline-making news regarding his salary this coming season and next.
Just how Bortles plays will likely dictate when and how big that next deal is. Over the next two seasons, the Jaguars will be watching closely to see if Bortles displays all of the right characteristics and progress to justify breaking the bank in favor of their quarterback.
Perhaps no quarterback in Jags history has had the kind of raw talent that Bortles displays each and every play. He’s capable of being a true game changer like the team has never seen before and it is widely expected that he will deliver on that promise.
DaSilva predicts that Bortles will sign a deal that has a floor of $77 million. That’s Ryan Tannehill money, which isn’t insubstantial. In a year or two, however, I think Tannehill will pale in comparison to Bortles and we could be looking at $90 million or more for Bortles to remain a Jaguar. That kind of money puts him more in line with Andy Dalton or Russell Wilson (per Spotrac), which are more likely to be his young peers gunning for championships.
More Money: Did the Jags overpay at FS?
Blake Bortles should prove worth it to the Jacksonville Jaguars. He has the kind of talent the team has needed at quarterback for a decade and he can win them games. For now, the Jags have an absolute bargain with Bortles being paid less than at least 28 other QBs. Don’t expect that to last.