Blake Bortles

After a five-year stint with the Jaguars, who drafted him third overall in 2014, Bortles signed a one-year, $1 million deal with the Rams last spring knowing that he would be in line for a backup job behind Jared Goff. In that role, Bortles completed just one of two passes for three yards and rushed twice for minus-9 yards while appearing in three games during the 2019 season. The 28-year-old is now looking for his next gig.

After starting for the majority of the past five years in Jacksonville, Bortles receives a needed fresh start in a backup role with the Rams. As inconsistent and underwhelming as he was as a No. 1 for the Jaguars, the 27-year-old passer should prove to be a solid insurance policy behind Jared Goff. Bortles could also make a fantasy impact again if he's pressed into duty. The supporting cast in Los Angeles is loaded with talent, and coach Sean McVay has proven capable of getting the most out of his players.

Bortles did enough last season to get a three-year, $54 million extension, but he didn't do much, which is probably why only $26.5 million of the extension is guaranteed. It's basically a one-year deal. Bortles improved his YPA and completion percentage, but he still ranked just 17th and 24th, respectively, in the league. Coach Doug Marrone praised Bortles' work in the second half of the season when he had three 300-yard games, but he also failed to hit 200 yards three times in that stretch and tossed five interceptions the final two weeks. Bortles' attempts dropped by more than 100 from 2016, as the Jaguars relied on great defense and Leonard Fournette. It wouldn't be surprising if Bortles got even fewer attempts this season, as that formula took the team to the AFC championship game. The Jaguars lost Allen Robinson and Allen Hurns, but signed Donte Moncrief and drafted 6-3 D.J. Chark in the second round. Bortles' upside looks dim, especially with Marqise Lee out for the season due to a knee injury.

Few players have as much to prove this season as Bortles. The Jaguars picked up his $19 million fifth-year option for 2018, but it's only guaranteed against injury, and unless he proves he indeed is a franchise quarterback, Bortles likely will be released next spring without the big paycheck. He looked like he was on his way to that status in 2015 when he finished as a top-five fantasy player at his position. But a closer look revealed he benefited from a league-leading number of red-zone attempts and an NFL three-year high number of attempts of 21-plus yards. Neither was likely to repeat, but the degree to which he saw his deep-ball accuracy falter was shocking. Bortles completed a mere 16.7 percent of attempts over 20 yards last season, easily last in the NFL (min. 20 attempts). His passer rating on those throws was a mind-numbing 14.2, more than 30 points lower than the next worst passer and a whopping 76.6 points lower than his 2015 rating (90.8). It would seem his downfield passing can only improve this season, but a new coaching staff, a recharged running game led by rookie Leonard Fournette and an improving defense likely will combine to limit Bortles' attempts. The days of 600-plus passes are probably gone, and he'll also be on the hot seat if he gets off to a slow start. The Jaguars flirted with the idea of benching Bortles during the preseason, even giving Chad Henne the start in their third exhibition contest.

The third overall pick and first QB in the 2014 draft, Bortles is coming off a huge season with a revitalized offense, falling one TD short of Tom Brady's 36 for the league lead while also finishing seventh in yards. A big pocket passer who does a good job of keeping his eyes downfield in traffic, Bortles worked hard to improve his mechanics out of college, and the result has been a better, stronger deep ball that allows him to take full advantage of talented WRs like Allen Robinson downfield. Before anointing him as the next superstar QB, however, there are some signs he could take a step back in 2016. Bortles was sacked a league-high 51 times last year, and while the team added former Steelers tackle Kelvin Beachum, pass protection could still be an issue. In addition, his improved mechanics haven't necessarily translated to improved accuracy, and his mediocre YPA suggests he could have a hard time breaking 30 TDs again, especially if he doesn't lead the league in red-zone passes as he did in 2015. The Jaguars added an influx of defensive talent, which should help Bortles avoid leading the NFL in INTs again, but it also figures to cost him some fourth-quarter volume. Without another big step in efficiency, Bortles will have a tough time repeating his raw totals. Of course, he's still 24, entering his third season.

It took only two and a half games of Chad Henne imitating a quarterback for the Jaguars to junk their plan to let the rookie Bortles learn from the sideline. Bortles took the starting job Week 4, and as one would expect, endured a forgettable first year. He threw six more interceptions than touchdowns and finished just one pick off the league lead despite playing only 14 games. He was 28th in completion percentage and 32nd in YPA. He got no help from the offensive line, which allowed 71 sacks, sixth most in league history. Bortles became the first quarterback since John Elway in 1994 to play only 14 games and still lead the league in sacks (55). Jacksonville's running backs didn't help the cause, averaging just 3.9 yards per carry. Bortles does have a strong group of receivers to target this season after Jacksonville signed tight end Julius Thomas to add to its three promising second-year wideouts, Marqise Lee, Allen Robinson and Allen Hurns. And the running game could improve significantly with second-round pick T.J. Yeldon, who is expected to be a three-down workhorse back. The Jaguars hired former Bills head coach Doug Marrone to coach the offensive line and Greg Olson, who guided Derek Carr to a respectable rookie season with the Raiders, as the new offensive coordinator. Bortles has good arm strength, along with a prototypical frame (6-5, 232) and athleticism (419 rush yards, 7.5 YPC), but inconsistent mechanics affect his accuracy, touch and velocity.

Hoping to avoid another Blaine Gabbert situation, the Jaguars reportedly intend to leave Bortles on the bench for all of his rookie year. But even if they're being honest, it's difficult to see that happening. It's much easier said than done, especially after a few weeks, when Chad Henne like has the team on the fast track to a high pick in 2015. Bortles is a big quarterback at 6-foot-5, 232 pounds and has the mobility necessary to make an impact with rushing stats. He stands tall in the pocket and does an excellent job of maneuvering around pressure while keeping his eyes downfield. Still, a run-heavy offense with two rookie receivers isn't the best situation for Bortles to make an immediate fantasy impact.