JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Jacksonville Jaguars have exercised their fifth-year team option on 2014 first-round selection and fourth-year quarterback Blake Bortles, the club announced Monday.
“This is a smart business decision for the team for several reasons,” said Jaguars Executive Vice President of Football Operations Tom Coughlin. “It makes sense for us going forward and it’s good for Blake and for the Jaguars."
Fifth-year options are available for first-round picks and must be declared in advance of the player's fourth season, in this case, the deadline was Wednesday, May 3. By exercising the option, the Jaguars keep Bortles under contract for the next two seasons, including a salary number of over $19 million for 2018. The club and Bortles can renegotiate the contract. The team can also cut Bortles, however there would be a salary cap impact to do so.
Had the Jaguars declined the fifth-year option, Bortles would still have been under contract for 2017, but would have been able to negotiate a new deal with the Jaguars. In essence, this buys another year for the Jaguars to decide if they want to make a long term commitment to Bortles. His play in 2017 will tip the balance in that decision.
All contracts for first round draft choices four year deals with a club option for a fifth year. These initial contracts cannot be renegotiated until after the third year.
The team also agreed to terms with 16 undrafted rookie free agents, including Jacksonville University linebacker Justin Horton. The full list:
NAME | POS. | HT. | WT. | SCHOOL |
Bluiett, Caleb | TE | 6-3 | 252 | Texas |
Cole, Keelan | WR | 6-1 | 194 | Kentucky Wesleyan |
Collins, Parker | C | 6-2 | 304 | Appalachian State |
Cook, Tim | RB | 6-0 | 242 | Oregon State |
Cutrer, Jeremy | CB | 6-1 | 167 | Middle Tennessee State |
Davis, P.J. | OLB | 5-9 | 232 | Georgia Tech |
Dimick, Hunter | DE | 6-3 | 268 | Utah |
Etta-Tawo, Amba | WR | 6-1 | 208 | Syracuse |
Gennesy, Avery | OG | 6-3 | 318 | Texas A&M |
Horton, Justin | OLB | 6-1 | 242 | Jacksonville |
Lupeamanu, Tueni | DT | 6-0 | 282 | Idaho |
Mathers, I'Tavius | RB | 5-11 | 203 | Middle Tennessee State |
Miller, Charlie | FS | 6-1 | 190 | Dartmouth |
Phillips, Carroll | DE | 6-3 | 242 | Illinois |
Robinson, Ezra | CB | 5-11 | 189 | Tennessee State |
Walker, Kenneth | WR | 5-9 | 188 | UCLA |
To make room on the roster, the Jaguars released 11 veteran players, including second-year tight end E.J. Bibbs, second-year running back Bronson Hill, second-year offensive lineman Colin Kelly, third-year linebacker Sean Porter, fourth-year running back Daryl Richardson, first-year tight end Gannon Sinclair, first-year safety Elijah Shumate, first-year offensive lineman Arturo Uzdavinis, third-year offensive lineman Greg Van Roten, second-year wide receivers Tony Washington and Shane Wynn.