Report: Saints release QB Blake Bortles at his request following Andy Dalton signing

Blake Bortles was granted his release from New Orleans.

Bortles asked the Saints to cut him on Tuesday, and the team followed through, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Bortles’ request came shortly after the Saints signed Andy Dalton to back up starter Jameis Winston.

The Saints signed Dalton to a one-year, $3 million deal late last month. Dalton, the longtime Cincinnati Bengals quarterback, was with the Chicago Bears last season. He was supposed to back up Justin Fields, but he made six starts and appeared in eight games due to injuries. New Orelans will mark Dalton’s fourth team in the league.

Bortles, clearly, doesn’t want to be dropped to a third-string quarterback behind both Dalton and Winston. So, he’s going to try his luck elsewhere.

Bortles hasn’t played since 2019, when he briefly made it into three games for the Los Angeles Rams. The former No. 3 overall pick led the Jacksonville Jaguars for five seasons, and threw for more than 17,600 yards and 103 touchdowns over that span.

He’s bounced around since his time with the Rams, and briefly joined the Denver Broncos and Green Bay Packers before landing in New Orleans.

Though the 29-year-old may not be a starting quarterback in the league right now, he’s definitely a quality backup option.

At least, that’s what Bortles is banking on. Only time will tell if a team feels the same way.

New Orleans Saints quarterback Blake Bortles
Blake Bortles will try his luck elsewhere in the league after the Saints signed Andy Dalton. (Ken Murray/Icon Sportswire/Getty Images) (Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

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