College: Central Florida
Height: 6’5”
Weight: 232
Positives
Ideal Build/Athleticism: Standing tall and stocky, Bortles’ size alone leads many to believe that he is an NFL caliber quarterback. For reference, his size is near identical to that of San Diego Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers. Such a build will allow Bortles to not only clearly see over his offensive line, but also allow him to withstand the punishment that NFL defenders have waiting for him. Although, he is mobile both in and out of the pocket. Within the pocket, he can evade defenders by either shaking them off due to his heavy frame or take a few steps around them. When he escapes the pocket, he has the ability to outrun defenders and make a throw on the move. Likewise, Bortles can use his athleticism to pick up yards when there is not an open receiver to throw to.
Pocket Presence: While his footwork could use touching up, few, if any, quarterbacks in this class have as natural of a feel for the pocket as Bortles does. Some quarterbacks shake at the site of pressure; others stand dormant. Bortles is different. Bortles has no fear of the 300-plus pound men running at him and constraining his room to function. In fact, he tends to thrive in situations in which he is forced off of his spot. He has a special sense of when defenders are near and exactly where they are. He immediately takes a step or two to avoid the rusher. During such movement, Bortles keeps his eyes focused downfield in an effort to find the easiest throw to make in the tough situation. In the NFL, having the ability to function through the surrounding chaos is crucial.
Negatives
Mechanics/Footwork: Bortles shows flashes of impressive footwork, but such flashes come too few and far between. His footwork, both during drops and when setting to throw, is generally poor. There are more occasions in which his sloppy footwork leads to a weak or inaccurate throw than there are occasions in which he makes a clean and accurate throw. Similarly, Bortles tends to have a slightly elongated throwing motion, which can lead to the timing of passes being off. The combination of sloppy footwork sets and an elongated throwing motion make for some horrendous throws. Luckily, both issues are coachable, but each player is different. He may not be able to shake the habits.
Ability To Read Defenses: Bortles looks the part and has all the physical tools needed for success, but in the mental aspect of quarterbacking, he struggles. When forced to go through multiple reads, especially against defenses more complex than a simple Cover 2, Bortles tends to force passes that end up being a costly mistake. The most glaring occurrences were against Penn State and South Carolina. Against Penn State, Bortles ran through his first read, then without thinking, fired at his second read. Penn State had been playing Cover 2 and the safety had seen what was coming, make a break on the ball, and intercepted it. Bortles had a tight end wide open across the middle of the field. In the South Carolina game, Victor Hampton was playing soft coverage on who happened to be Bortles’ first read. Bortles stared at the receiver without looking elsewhere. Hampton recognized his stubbornness and pounced on the pass. Similar to the Penn State game, Bortles had a receiver open on the other side of the field. At the professional level, silly mistakes such as those will cost one their job.
NFL Comparison: Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers
Bortles brings a similar pocket presence and body frame that Roethlisberger does, as well as comparable athleticism. Both can thrive in chaotic situations and have proven the ability to make throws on the run. While Roethlisberger’s arm may be stronger, the two are still similar players and could have similar careers.
Draft Outlook
Considering his frame, physical tools, and the success of his team, Bortles has drawn enough attention to be in play as the No.1 overall pick. He is not the best quarterback in the class, so he should not be the pick at No.1, he should be heavily considered by teams like Cleveland, Oakland, or Minnesota. The NFL is a pass-happy league and will not let a quarterback like Bortles fall out of the top ten picks.
Best Fits
At No.1 overall, Bortles should not be the pick, but if the Houston Texans were to trade back, Bortles would be a stellar fit considering he fits the bill for what head coach Bill O’Brien looks for in a quarterback. Also, the surrounding talent in Houston is better than that of any of the other teams picking in the top five, so it would be an ideal landing spot for a rookie quarterback.
Yet again, the Cleveland Browns have found themselves in need of a quarterback. Cleveland is another situation with a solid surrounding cast and would benefit from Kyle Shanahan’s simplistic offensive system. The combo would allow him to ease into the NFL quite smoothly, which he seems to need.