The Jaguars appear ready to give rookie quarterback Blake Bortles a year-long apprenticeship behind veteran Chad Henne.
In an interview with ESPN Radio’s “Mike and Mike” program on Friday, Jaguars G.M. David Caldwell indicated the club was looking toward 2015 as the season in which Bortles, whom Jacksonville selected No. 3 overall in Round One, could mount a serious challenge for the starting role.
When asked when he would like Bortles to assume the starting spot, Caldwell said: “To be honest with you, probably 2015. We’d like to give Chad this whole year and go with Chad this year.”
Caldwell noted that Bortles, the first quarterback taken in the 2014 draft, has “some development to do.” To that end, Caldwell said the club had a plan for preparing Bortles to get ready to play a notoriously challenging position, including extra post-practice work.
The Jaguars’ goal, Caldwell said, is to “really kind of get [Bortles] ready so come 2015, he’s ready to compete for that spot.”
Henne signed a two-year contract with the Jaguars in March. He has started 19 games over the last two seasons for Jacksonville. From the sound of it, he will add to that tally as the Jaguars ready Bortles to eventually assume his role.