Before Blake Bortles' fifth-year option becomes fully guaranteed March 14, the Jacksonville Jaguars are exploring their free-agent options at the quarterback position, a league source informed Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk.

The Jaguars exercised the fifth-year option on Bortles in May and he went on to lead Jacksonville to the AFC Championship Game in January. However, considering this year's strong class of free-agent quarterbacks, the Jags are researching how they can upgrade at the position.

The period during which teams can enter into contract negotiations with players who will become unrestricted free agents begins March 12. The Jaguars could use that time to reach a deal with a quarterback on the open market, and then cut Bortles before they have to pay his $19-million option.

There are still potholes along that route, including - as evidenced by Josh McDaniels' change of heart - the possibility a player could back out.

Bortles was inconsistent in 2017, best illustrated by his postseason play, which began with an 87-yard output and concluded with a 293-yard day against the New England Patriots.