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The one move that defined the 2018 NFL season for all 32 teams

By Erik Lambert

ALAMEDA, CA - JANUARY 09: Oakland Raiders new head coach Jon Gruden looks on during a news conference at Oakland Raiders headquarters on January 9, 2018 in Alameda, California. Jon Gruden has returned to the Oakland Raiders after leaving the team in 2001. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
ALAMEDA, CA - JANUARY 09: Oakland Raiders new head coach Jon Gruden looks on during a news conference at Oakland Raiders headquarters on January 9, 2018 in Alameda, California. Jon Gruden has returned to the Oakland Raiders after leaving the team in 2001. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) /
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FOXBOROUGH, MA – JANUARY 21: Blake Bortles #5 of the Jacksonville Jaguars reacts in the fourth quarter during the AFC Championship Game against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on January 21, 2018 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
FOXBOROUGH, MA – JANUARY 21: Blake Bortles #5 of the Jacksonville Jaguars reacts in the fourth quarter during the AFC Championship Game against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on January 21, 2018 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

Jacksonville Jaguars: Sticking with Blake Bortles

Reaching the AFC championship last year had dire consequences for the Jaguars. As can so often happen, they were lured into a false sense of security by that success. Blake Bortles had played well down the stretch and made some big plays to get them to one game away from the Super Bowl. However, amidst the fun, they forgot that his play may have been spurred on by the fact he was in a contract year.

League history is sprinkled with many examples of mediocre players turning in strong runs like that in order to secure their big payday. Sure enough, Bortles got what he wanted in a three-year extension worth over $26 million in guaranteed money. He rewarded that faith of the front office by turning in his worst season as a pro and getting benched in favor of Cody Kessler.

This team missed a big opportunity to move on from him and now they’re likely to pay for it for the next couple of years unless they somehow snag a quarterback in 2019 who can help them win right away.

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