NFL: The five best fits for Kirk Cousins in free agency

2. Jacksonville Jaguars

The Jacksonville Jaguars may seem like an unlikely destination after Blake Bortles stepped up with a solid postseason. The reality remains, however, that Bortles is a polarizing quarterback who has failed to provide the high-level contributions that a championship contender requires.

If this were all up to Cousins—and not the salary cap or general managers—then joining the Jaguars would be the decision that would make the second-most sense.

Jacksonville has an elite pass rush, a young and dynamic running back, and a head coach who’s proven capable of winning despite or with the help of the quarterback play. It’s also coming off of a trip to the AFC Championship Game, where it lost by just four points to the New England Patriots.

Bortles produced a solid stat line, but the Jaguars needed a quarterback who could make the big throws in big moments—and Cousins is simply better equipped to do so.

It’s plausible that Bortles will translate this postseason run into sustained and improved success. If the Jaguars doubt that possibility, however, Cousins could be the player who pushes the team over the edge as soon as the 2018 season.

Cousins can prioritize money if that’s his desire, but if he wants to win, then only one team will give him a more realistic shot at doing so than Jacksonville.