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The Los Angeles Rams signed former Jacksonville Jaguars QB Blake Bortles on Monday to back up QB Jared Goff for the 2019 season.
But today, from ESPN’s Field Yates, we learn that the cost of doing so will be very, very, very low:
Blake Bortles' one-year deal with the Rams is for $1M, per source. With Jacksonville owing Bortles $6.5M guaranteed this year, LA could sign Bortles at a modest price. The Jags will eventually be credited $1M in cap space due to offset language.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) March 20, 2019
That is, to use the parlance, an absolute steal.
The saga was a bit strange though. Jacksonville signed Bortles to a three-year deal just a year ago. By releasing him after one season in that deal, they had to eat $16.5m of dead money, but it would at least take him off their books for 2020. It was probably the wise move for the Jags, but only because they had put themselves in that position.
So with the $6.5m levy incurred this year, Bortles wasn’t in a position to need to really look for full market value. Instead, he could take a team-friendly deal and try to boost his profile in hopes for a career rebound in 2020.
Here’s hoping it works out for all involved this year.