Blake Bortles asked for and will receive his release from the Saints today after their signing of Andy Dalton, per league source. At the age of 29, with 73 starts and 103 TD passes on his resume, Bortles is looking for a better opportunity to be a No. 2 quarterback elsewhere.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 5, 2022
It’s the end of an era: ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that the New Orleans Saints are granting the release sought by backup quarterback Blake Bortles following the team’s signing of Andy Dalton, with Bortles looking to catch on as a No. 2 passer elsewhere around the league.
Initially signed as a veteran presence to support then-rookie Ian Book during his first NFL start after injuries and a COVID-19 outbreak decimated New Orleans’ depth chart, Bortles hung around and was re-signed for the 2022 season at a minimum salary. The Saints then signed Dalton at a solid rate of $3 million, which put him ahead of Bortles on the depth chart.
Bortles saw the writing on the wall and decided to make a move. So where could he go next? One team that may be interested is the Denver Broncos, whose first-year head coach Nathaniel Hackett worked with Bortles in the past as the Jacksonville Jaguars offensive coordinator. Bortles would be an inexpensive but experienced backup for Russell Wilson at Mile High, though there could be other teams interested in his services.
So this leaves the Saints depth chart with Winston and Dalton on top, Book in flux behind them, and Taysom Hill focusing on his assignments at tight end. Look for the Saints to add another quarterback to the room — either early in the draft or later this offseason as a fourth passer to keep training camp practices on schedule.
