Jaguars pick up Blake Bortles’ fifth-year option

The Jacksonville Jaguars have picked up quarterback Blake Bortles’ fifth-year option.

We said at the very beginning of the offseason that the Jaguars shouldn’t pick up Bortles’ fifth-year option. There really is no benefit because even if you pick it up and Bortles suddenly becomes amazing, you’re going to be paying a lot more in the form of a long term contract. If you don’t pick it up and he suddenly becomes amazing, guess what? You can franchise tag him for the same price and still sign him to a long-term contract.

You could argue that you could use the franchise tag on someone else, but ultimately they won’t have very many targets worthy of using it and the most important thing going forward is quarterback. There’s no reason to marry yourself to Bortles right now for multiple seasons unless you absolutely have to.

Granted, the fifth year option is only guaranteed for injury so the Jaguars can still cut him after this season with no penalty — but they’d have to cut him before the new leauge year in March.

But Tom Coughlin obviously feels differently.

“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.”

What do you think? Should the Jaguars have exercised Bortles’ fifth-year option?