Jacksonville Jaguars position-by-position breakdown: Quarterback
By Billy Long
Before the new league year begins, we examine the Jacksonville Jaguars roster, one position group at a time.
The Jacksonville Jaguars have assembled one of the most talent-loaded rosters in the league, and that should only continue to be more evident next season.
Before the hustle and bustle of free agency and the NFL Draft, we begin a series of looking at the Jaguars roster, at each position, specifically what each group looks like at the moment and what could happen in the offseason.
We begin with the most important position in the sport, the quarterback:
As it stands right now
Starter: Blake Bortles
Backup: Chad Henne
The Jacksonville Jaguars opted to roll with just two quarterbacks in 2017. Blake Bortles started every game, throwing for 3,687 yards, 21 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions.
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It seemed certain when the year started, the season would be the curtain call for Bortles in Jacksonville. But with leading his team all the way to the AFC Championship game, and nearly the Super Bowl, Bortles has given the Jaguars a crucial decision to make heading to 2018.
What could happen
All eyes will be on the position when free agency starts in March. The Jaguars have a monumental decision to make when it comes to the future of Bortles. Jacksonville will either decide to keep Bortles as the starter for 2018, letting him play out his $19 million fifth-year option, or make a splash by signing Kirk Cousins.
If it is Bortles for another year, Jacksonville will almost certainly use an early-round draft pick on a quarterback, and plan for the future. If the team decides to throw the bank at Cousins, he will be expected to be THE guy for years to come for the franchise.
As far as Chad Henne goes, the backup quarterback is set to be a free agent, and all signs point to his time in Jacksonville being over and done. The Jaguars can easily find an alternate in the backup role instead of re-signing Henne.