Blake Bortles

Jaguars still believe Blake Bortles is a franchise quarterback

Jacksonville Jaguars general manager Dave Caldwell believes quarterback Blake Bortles is a franchise player, ESPN's Chris Mortensen reports.

What It Means:

Caldwell has said the next coach will not have a "mandate" to stick with Bortles, but Mortensen reports Caldwell's commitment to the 2014 third overall pick could keep top coaching names from considering the Jaguars. Caldwell will reportedly lead the search for the new coach, but he was not in the room when ownership met with Tom Coughlin earlier this week. If the Jaguars can attract a big enough name who wants some roster control, it is possible Caldwell's commitment to Bortles costs him his job.

Bortles is one of just nine quarterbacks to post a negative rate in Passing Net Expected Points (NEP) per drop back on more than 100 drop backs this season. He comes in 31st out of 39 quarterbacks in this analytic.