Even after handing quarterback Blake Bortles a lucrative extension last week, it’s readily apparent that the Jacksonville Jaguars are looking for more from the former top-10 pick. Speaking at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, Jaguars head coach Doug Marrone made this clear.
“We were excited about that (the extension),” Jaguars coach Doug Marrone said, via Pro Football Talk. “I think Blake has shown during the year that he was progressing, getting better. Obviously when you give a player a contract now, we are looking for more, which we always are. No different than any other position. We need to come in and we need to play better than we did before.”
There’s no beating around the bush here. Bortles needs to perform at a higher clip if he’s going to be seen as the Jaguars’ franchise quarterback beyond the 2018 season. It’s also in this that Marrone didn’t rule out the possibility of Jacksonville using its first-round pick in April’s draft on a quarterback.
“We have to do a better job, starting with me and the coaches. I think the draft process or free agency gives you the ability to go ahead and better your football team no matter what position it is,” Marrone said. “I don’t think anything is ever off limits when it comes down to trying to better your football team.”
Bortles, 25, is coming off a 2017 campaign that saw him put up nearly 3,700 passing yards with 21 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. Though, he was extremely inconsistent. For example, the young signal caller put up five interceptions in his final two regular season games, including a three pick performance in a blowout loss to San Francisco. He then fired back by throwing three touchdowns and zero interceptions in the postseason en route to leading the Jaguars to the AFC Championship Game
Needless to say, Bortles needs to become more consistent if he plans on holding on to this job long-term. And based on Marrone’s comments, he could very well face some competition in the form of a rookie next season.