At the NFL Combine Blake Bortles' girlfriend Lindsey Duke was a bigger hit than he was, but the effect she had seems to be wearing off. According to reports, Bortles was asked about whether Duke would be attending dinners with scouts further down the line, and it was speculated her looks could earn him an invite to the NFL Draft.
Bortles did indeed get his invite, but NFL.com analyst Bucky Brooks believes his stay at the draft could be lengthy. In a new mock draft, Brooks has pegged the University of Central Florida prospect to fall all the way down to No. 20 to the Arizona Cardinals.
Brooks originally had Bortles slotted at No. 5 to the Oakland Raiders, but now seems them snagging offensive tackle Greg Robinson out of Auburn instead. He acknowledged that Bortles falling would be a shocker, writing, "It would likely take a wild scenario for Bortles to be available at this stage of the draft."
Brooks sees Bortles as an ideal fit in their offensive scheme, though. "The Cardinals need a young quarterback in place to succeed Carson Palmer in a year or so. Bortles is not only the right fit for Bruce Arians' system, but he undoubtedly would benefit from a year on the sidelines before being thrust into action."
Bortles threw for 3,581 yards, 25 touchdowns and had nine interceptions in his breakout junior season with UCF, and led the Knights to victory over high-scoring Baylor in the Fiesta Bowl. Among the "Big Three" quarterback prospects, including Johnny Manziel and Teddy Bridgewater, he was the only one to throw for prospects, and did so impressively.
He's the largest of the bunch, and doesn't have the off-field concerns Manziel brings, nor the problem of small hands that Bridgewater faces. The only question for Bortles right now seems to be whether he can escape the shadow of his buxom beau.
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