Blake Bortles to be first quarterback selected in 2014 NFL draft?

Blake Bortles has the size teams are looking for in an NFL quarterback. (Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

UCF's Blake Bortles may not be the first overall selection in the 2014 NFL draft (the Houston Texans are reportedly leaning toward defense), but he might be the first quarterback taken.

That's the word from a league source who informed Jacksonville.com that Bortles will be the first-signal caller off the board.

"A league source thinks Bortles will be the first quarterback off the board -- 'to somebody in the first five or six picks. ... But based on a lot of things that could play out, you might see Bridgewater fall into the late part of the first round,'" the source said.

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Bortles being selected ahead of Johnny Manziel, Teddy Bridgewater or Derek Carr isn't outlandish. Where could he fall in those first five or six picks? If the Texans are intent on passing on a quarterback, the Jacksonville Jaguars, Cleveland Browns and potentially Oakland Raiders could all be in the market for Bortles' services

Falling to sixth would put Bortles in play for the Atlanta Falcons, but they're set with Matt Ryan. The Falcons have expressed in dealing their pick, but the rumors have linked them to trading up, not down.

Regardless, Bortles seems to be assured of a relatively high pick, something that can't be said for any of the other remaining "top" quarterbacks who have seen their collective stock dropping in recent days.

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