Many folks, it seems, have a real interest in knowing how much money famous athletes make. It's a natural curiosity, really, to wonder about the financial side of a sports career. For someone like Blake Bortles, a name many football fans remember, his time in the NFL brought with it some significant paychecks. People often look at a player's journey, from being a top pick to their later years, and try to piece together their financial story.

Blake Bortles had a career that, in a way, saw a lot of ups and downs. He was a high draft choice, someone many teams had their eyes on for a long time. His time playing professional football certainly had moments of brilliance, and then some challenging periods too. So, understanding his net worth means taking a look at his entire path in the league, including the big contracts he signed.

This piece will explore the money side of Blake Bortles' professional life. We will go through his time in the NFL, the various deals he made, and what might contribute to his overall financial standing. It's about seeing how a player's earnings add up over the years, and how those earnings fit into the bigger picture of a professional athlete's financial journey, you know?

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Table of Contents

• A Look at Blake Bortles' Journey
  • Personal Details and Career Snapshot
  • Early Days and College Football
  • The NFL Draft and Jacksonville's Hopes
• Blake Bortles' NFL Contracts and Earnings
  • The Rookie Deal: Setting the Stage
  • The Big Extension: A Bet on Potential
  • Subsequent Stints: Shorter Agreements
• Beyond the Field: Other Income Streams
  • Endorsements and Partnerships
  • Investment and Post-Playing Pursuits
• What Shapes a Player's Financial Picture?
  • Taxes, Agent Fees, and Lifestyle Choices
  • Comparing to Other Quarterbacks
• Frequently Asked Questions About Blake Bortles' Finances

A Look at Blake Bortles' Journey

Blake Bortles entered the professional football scene with a lot of attention. He was a quarterback, a position that always gets a good deal of focus. His path from college to the big leagues is a story many fans followed closely, as a matter of fact.

Personal Details and Career Snapshot

Early Days and College Football

Before his time in the NFL, Blake Bortles showed a lot of promise playing college football at the University of Central Florida, or UCF. He was a standout player there, guiding his team to some very good seasons. His performances on the college field really put him on the map for professional scouts, you know? He got a lot of recognition for his arm and his ability to lead an offense, which is that kind of thing NFL teams really look for.

His college career culminated in a memorable victory in the Fiesta Bowl, a big-time game. This win was a key moment for him and for UCF's football program. It helped cement his status as one of the top quarterback prospects coming out of college that year, too. Many people saw him as a future star, ready to take on the challenges of the professional game.

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The NFL Draft and Jacksonville's Hopes

The 2014 NFL Draft was a big event, and Blake Bortles was a central figure in it. The Jacksonville Jaguars, a team looking for a new leader at quarterback, picked him very early, as the third overall selection. This meant the team put a lot of faith in him, hoping he would be the player to turn things around for them. It was a huge moment for him and for the city of Jacksonville, naturally.

Being drafted so high meant he came into the league with immense expectations. Fans and coaches alike hoped he would become the long-term answer at the quarterback spot. His arrival brought a lot of excitement to the team's supporters, who were eager for a new era of winning football. So, his initial contract reflected this high draft status, setting the stage for his earnings.

Blake Bortles' NFL Contracts and Earnings

A big part of an athlete's net worth comes from the contracts they sign with their teams. For Blake Bortles, his NFL career involved several significant deals that shaped his financial standing. Understanding these agreements helps paint a clearer picture of his earnings over time, as a matter of fact.

The Rookie Deal: Setting the Stage

As the third overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft, Blake Bortles signed a substantial rookie contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars. This deal was for four years, and it included a team option for a fifth year. Rookie contracts for top draft picks are usually fully guaranteed, especially for players picked so high. This means he was set to receive a good amount of money right from the start of his professional playing days, you know?

His first contract was worth around $20.6 million, with a signing bonus of roughly $13.3 million. This kind of money is standard for players picked at the very top of the draft. It gives them a solid financial base as they begin their careers. For Bortles, this initial agreement was the first major step in building his net worth, providing him with a significant sum before he even played his first game. It set a strong financial foundation, really.

The rookie wage scale, which was put in place a few years before he was drafted, helps determine how much these first-year players get paid. It creates a system where the higher a player is picked, the more money their first contract is worth. This structure helps teams manage their finances while still rewarding top talent. For Blake, this meant a very comfortable start to his professional life, naturally.

The Big Extension: A Bet on Potential

After a few seasons with the Jaguars, Blake Bortles signed a major contract extension in February 2018. This deal was a significant moment for him and for the team. It was a three-year agreement, reportedly worth $54 million, with up to $66.5 million possible with incentives. A good portion of this money, about $26.5 million, was guaranteed at signing, which is that kind of security players really like.

This extension came after a season where Bortles helped lead the Jaguars to the AFC Championship game, a big achievement for the team. The Jaguars, at that point, believed he was the quarterback who could take them even further. They were betting on his potential and his ability to continue improving. So, this contract was a huge vote of confidence in his abilities, and it greatly increased his total career earnings.

The structure of the contract meant he would receive a large sum of money upfront and in the early years of the deal. This kind of arrangement is common in the NFL, where teams try to manage their salary cap while also rewarding their key players. For Bortles, this contract represented the peak of his earning potential in the league. It showed how much the team valued him at that specific time, too.

However, the team released him after just one season into this new deal. This shows how quickly things can change in professional sports. Even with a big contract, a player's future can shift based on performance and team decisions. The guaranteed money meant he still got a large sum, but the full value of the contract was not realized, obviously.

Subsequent Stints: Shorter Agreements

After leaving the Jaguars, Blake Bortles signed a series of shorter, less lucrative contracts with other NFL teams. These deals were typically for one year and for much smaller amounts compared to his previous agreements. He spent time with the Los Angeles Rams, the Denver Broncos, the Green Bay Packers, and the New Orleans Saints. These later contracts were usually for the league minimum or slightly above, sometimes with incentives, you know?

For instance, his deal with the Rams in 2019 was a one-year agreement. Then he had another one-year deal with the Broncos in 2020, and similar short-term arrangements with the Packers and Saints. These contracts reflected his role as a backup quarterback, providing depth for teams rather than being a starter. So, while they added to his overall earnings, they were not as impactful as his earlier, larger deals.

These later years in his career were more about staying in the league and contributing in a different capacity. The financial terms of these contracts were a stark contrast to the millions he received as a high draft pick and a starting quarterback. They still represented professional earnings, of course, but at a much different scale. It shows how player values can change over time in the league, too.

Beyond the Field: Other Income Streams

While playing contracts make up the biggest part of an NFL player's net worth, other things can also add to their financial picture. This includes deals with companies and what they do with their money after their playing days are over. For Blake Bortles, like many athletes, there are other ways money might come in, basically.

Endorsements and Partnerships

For top-tier quarterbacks, endorsement deals with big companies can add millions to their income. These deals involve promoting products or services. While Blake Bortles was a high draft pick and a starting quarterback for a time, he did not reach the same level of national recognition or consistent success as some of the league's biggest stars. This often means fewer major endorsement opportunities, you know?

It is likely he had some local or smaller endorsement deals during his time as the Jaguars' starting quarterback. These might include agreements with car dealerships, local restaurants, or regional brands. However, there are no widely reported, massive national endorsement deals associated with his name. So, while this is a potential income stream for athletes, it probably contributed a smaller portion to his overall net worth compared to his playing salary.

Investment and Post-Playing Pursuits

Many professional athletes, once their playing careers end, turn their attention to investments or business ventures. They might put their earnings into real estate, stocks, or start their own companies. This can be a way to grow their money and create new income streams for the future. What Blake Bortles has done in this area is not widely publicized, which is that kind of private detail many people keep to themselves.

Like many who have earned significant sums, he likely has financial advisors helping him manage his money. This could involve various investment strategies aimed at preserving and growing his wealth. The long-term financial health of an athlete often depends on how well they manage their money after their playing days are done. So, while we don't have specific details, it's a common path for former players, naturally.

What Shapes a Player's Financial Picture?

Understanding a player's net worth involves more than just looking at their total contract value. Several factors influence how much money an athlete actually keeps and how their wealth grows over time. These include things like taxes, fees paid to agents, and the choices they make about how they live, basically.

Taxes, Agent Fees, and Lifestyle Choices

A significant portion of an NFL player's gross earnings goes towards taxes. This includes federal income tax, state income tax (which varies depending on where they play and where they live), and sometimes even "jock taxes" in different states where they play games. So, the money they sign for is not the money they actually take home, by any means.

Players also pay fees to their agents, who negotiate their contracts and handle other aspects of their careers. These fees are usually a percentage of their playing contracts, often around 3%. This is a standard cost of doing business for professional athletes. Then there are lifestyle choices; some players live very lavishly, while others are more conservative with their spending. These personal choices greatly affect their actual net worth over time, you know?

Travel, training expenses, and supporting family members can also add up. It's a lot more than just the big number on the contract. Managing these expenses and planning for the future is a big part of an athlete's financial journey. So, while the gross earnings are impressive, the net amount can be quite different, really.

Comparing to Other Quarterbacks

When thinking about Blake Bortles' earnings, it's interesting to consider how his financial path compares to other quarterbacks from his era. Quarterbacks, especially high draft picks, generally command the biggest salaries in the NFL. Some quarterbacks sign deals worth hundreds of millions of dollars, particularly those who consistently perform at an elite level and win championships, you know?

Bortles' career earnings, while substantial, probably place him in a different tier than the absolute highest-paid quarterbacks who have won Super Bowls or consistently made Pro Bowls. His big extension was a good one for its time, but the rapid increase in quarterback salaries since then means that deal might look smaller by today's standards. This shows how the market for players keeps changing, too.

His financial story reflects a quarterback who had a promising start, secured a large contract based on that promise, but then saw his role change later in his career. It's a common path for many players who don't quite reach the very top of their position but still have very successful and financially rewarding careers in professional sports, naturally.

Frequently Asked Questions About Blake Bortles' Finances

What was Blake Bortles' biggest contract?

Blake Bortles' largest contract was the three-year extension he signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars in February 2018. This deal was reportedly worth $54 million, with the potential to reach $66.5 million through incentives. About $26.5 million of that money was guaranteed at the time he signed it, too. It was a significant financial commitment from the team, really.

How long did Blake Bortles play in the NFL?

Blake Bortles played in the NFL for eight seasons. He was drafted in 2014 by the Jacksonville Jaguars and played for them until 2018. After that, he had stints with the Los Angeles Rams (2019-2020), Denver Broncos (2020), Green Bay Packers (2021), and New Orleans Saints (2021). His last recorded NFL activity was in 2021, so, he had a pretty good run.

What is Blake Bortles doing now?

After his time in the NFL, Blake Bortles has mostly stayed out of the public eye. He has not announced any major post-playing career moves or business ventures that are widely known. Like many former athletes, he seems to be enjoying a more private life away from the intense spotlight of professional sports. He did confirm his retirement from the NFL in October 2022, which is that kind of thing many players do when they step away.

For more insights into the financial aspects of professional sports, you could explore resources like Spotrac's NFL career earnings data. To learn more about NFL player contracts on our site, and for details on quarterback salaries, you can find more information here.