Five destinations for Jaguars QB Blake Bortles

So much has been made about the Jacksonville Jaguars moving on from quarterback Blake Bortles this offseason. Where would the veteran wind up if released?

All the local and national media have talked about this offseason so far when it comes to the quarterback situation in Jacksonville is the need for the Jaguars to move on from Blake Bortles.

They have mentioned Nick Foles, Tyrod Taylor, Teddy Bridgewater and draft picks to come in and change the direction of the 5-11 team from last season.

For now, as Tom Coughlin pointed out on Wednesday on ESPN 690 Jacksonville, Bortles is still a member of the team. That should change in a few weeks. What we haven’t talked about it where the former first-round draft pick might land and what are the prospects of him starting another game in the NFL.

More from Jacksonville Jaguars News

• Jacksonville Jaguars land DeAndre Hopkins in trade proposal to stop the KC Chiefs
• The Jaguars may look for edge rushers with pick 24
• NFL free agency felt like a whirlwind for Jacksonville Jaguars TE Evan Engram in 2022
• Jacksonville Jaguars in position to let RT Jawaan Taylor hit free agency in 2023
• Jaguars GM Trent Baalke hopes HC Doug Pederson has trust in him

If Blaine Gabbert can find a job in Tennessee and play meaningful minutes in football games this past season, there has to be a place for Bortles, who could still be a very serviceable backup. Bortles, who is a solid guy in the locker room and is the consummate team player, could still have a successful career for the next several years in the NFL.

Here is a look at a few teams who could use Bortles services in 2019.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers – The Buccaneers make the most sense because of coach Bruce Arians and the team’s need to find a quality backup behind Jameis Winston.

Bruce Arians was enamored with Blake Bortles when he was the head coach of the Arizona Cardinals. The Buccaneers will most likely lose Ryan Fitzpatrick this offseason. By the way, don’t count Fitzmagic out of the discussion in Jacksonville as a bridge quarterback.

Winston’s leash may be short this season as he is still an erratic signal caller. Bortles may thrive in Tampa Bay, and may be the best chance of becoming a starter once again in the NFL.

Arizona Cardinals – Josh Rosen may be the future of the Cardinals, but the future may take longer than expected. A veteran who can become a mentor for the second-year player may be what he needs.

Blake Bortles isn’t Chad Henne, but he does have the capability to become a support system for the youngster – something he needed from Henne while starting out in Jacksonville.

Washington Redskins – The situation with Alex Smith could mean the Redskins are in the market for a rookie signal caller or could bring Bortles in as a backup who could see considerable playing time next season.

The Redskins quarterback situation is muddled, where Josh Johnson, Colt McCoy or Mark Sanchez could still be under center at the start of 2019, but he is no guarantee to lead this team toward a winning record. Bortles may make sense here as well.

Oakland Raiders – As Christian D’Andrea of SB Nation wrote, the disaster of the Oakland Raiders and Jon Gruden’s willingness to tear this team apart, may be the reason Blake Borltes winds up with the team on the west coast.

The Raiders have a quarterback in Derek Carr who regressed in 2018. Gruden may try to trade his starter and draft a quarterback like Kyler Murray in April. Bortles would be the ideal guy to play until Murray is ready or be a steady backup to Carr, who was drafted in the class as the guy looking over his shoulder.

Pittsburgh Steelers – I am throwing this out there as I have seen it talked about as a mere afterthought. Would the Steelers sign Bortles to be Ben Roethlisberger’s backup and eventual replacement?

I think replacing Big Ben in Steel Town is a reach, but the similarities of the two signal callers has been discussed for years. For the record, Bortles is not the better quarterback. Roethlisberger will go down as one of the best to ever play the game.

Given the athleticism of Bortles, I could see this happen, but it really is a long shot.