Over this past weekend, the Jacksonville Jaguars announced the decision to sign quarterback Blake Bortles to a three-year extension worth up to $66.5 million to keep him under contract that runs through 2020. It was a move that came with a bit of a surprise given the talk surrounding his uncertain long-term future.

This is a move that gives Bortles the job security that he has been hoping to get to remain with the team that drafted him four years ago with the third overall pick. According to John Oehser of Jaguars.com, the 25-year-old made it clear throughout the negotiation process this where he wanted to continue to play his NFL career.

“This is definitely the place I wanted to be,” Bortles said, also citing personal reasons such as Jacksonville being close to his hometown of Oviedo, Florida.

Bortles has personal connections to the area. He grew up in a nearby city and attended the University of Central Florida, located a little more than two hours away from EverBank Field where the Jaguars play. It is a rare opportunity for him to essentially play for his hometown team.

That said, this new deal puts more pressure on Bortles to perform at a higher level over the duration of the deal while leading the team to a high amount of success. The hope is that he builds on the Jaguars' success this past season with their first AFC Championship game in nearly tw0 decades.

Bortles hasn't exactly performed up to the level of a legitimate franchise quarterback over the last couple of seasons, but the Jaguars have assembled a strong foundation with one of the league's best defenses. They also possess a workhorse running back in Leonard Fournette, who can potentially lead their rushing attack for the next several seasons. All of the pieces are in place for Bortles to help further establish sustained success in Jacksonville for years to come.