The extension recently signed by the Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback could have an impact on the decisions made by the Minnesota Vikings this offseason.
In a bit of a surprising move, the Jacksonville Jaguars announced on Saturday that the team and quarterback Blake Bortles had agreed to a contract extension. The new deal is for $54 million and will keep Bortles under contract through 2020.
Some felt that the Jaguars could possibly move on from the quarterback this offseason and be in the market for someone new like a rookie or Kirk Cousins. Jacksonville may still draft a signal caller this year, but Bortles’ new deal pretty much eliminates any chance of Cousins landing with them.
For the Minnesota Vikings, now they have one less team to worry about if they choose to pursue Cousins in free agency this year. The Vikings already had a good chance to sign the high-priced free-agent quarterback, but those chances appear to have increased with the move made by Jacksonville on Saturday.
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Free agency is not the only place where this extension could make an impact on Minnesota’s offseason.
With the Jaguars’ decision to keep Bortles around for at least another year, they could possibly take a quarterback within the first two rounds of the 2018 draft. Jacksonville picks 29th in the first round, one selection before the Vikings.
If Minnesota has their eye on a certain quarterback in the draft this year, they better hope the Jaguars don’t get to him first. The Vikings may now have to possibly move up a few picks if they intend to select a signal caller in the first round.
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The effects on Minnesota’s offseason after this extension are not too significant. But the move helps eliminate some of the obstacles they might have had to deal with this year.