The Jacksonville Jaguars say they haven’t given up on Blake Bortles, but it’s starting to sound like Deshaun Watson could end up being the pick at No. 4. overall in the 2017 NFL Draft.
Albert Breer of The MMQB noted on Thursday morning that, “The closer we get to draft day, the stronger the whispers have become that Tom Coughlin loves Watson, and that he really could take him over Leonard Fournette, which would mean the end of Blake Bortles is near.”
Coughlin is running things now in Jacksonville. It was reported early in the offseason before he had the job that he wasn’t sold on Bortles as the long-term answer at quarterback.
But one wonders if there isn’t at least a minor power struggle over this issue. Head coach Doug Marrone has gone to bat for Bortles in the past, and general manager David Caldwell recently said the Jags could win the Super Bowl with the former UCF star.
That Bortles has been a huge disappointment so far is indisputable. His penchant for turnovers gives the Jaguars little chance to win games, and unless that changes the team’s status as a bottom feeder won’t change, either.
Watson comes from a winning program and showed he knows how to handle the pressure of big games and big moments.
However, he also has a tendency to throw balls into spots he has no business thinking are ideal. He also isn’t particularly comfortable in the pocket, often “escaping” non-existent pressure just to get outside the pocket where he feels more at home. That’s not a great recipe for success in the NFL.
It’s going to be fascinating to see how this all unfolds on Thursday night when picks start flying in. The Jaguars might be feeling a bit desperate to finally get it right, which could lead to an awkward situation come offseason workouts and training camp if Watson is the pick at No. 4.