QBs don't grow on trees. He will be extended. There is not much history of QBs playing incredible when they are introduced to the league at age 22. Particularly with no running game and a poor defense. This season the running game and defense improved, the Jaguars weren't relying on Bortles throwing 50 times to try to come from behind, and as a result cut down on confidence draining mistakes (no pick 6s) and was able to manage games effectively. There is room for improvement, but he has definitely shown enough improvement for an extension. Some perspective

Alex Smith first 4 years in NFL (through age 25 season)
56.3% 7029 yards 37 touchdowns 43 interceptions 163 ypg 69.2 QB Rating

Andrew Luck first 4 years in NFL (through age 26 season)
58.1% 14838 yards 101 touchdowns 55 interceptions 270 ypg 85 QB Rating

Tom Brady first 4 years in NFL (through age 26 season)
61.9% 10233 yards 69 touchdowns 38 interceptions 213 ypg 85.9 QB Rating (77.3 QB rating in the 2001 playoffs, 84.5 QB rating in the 2003 playoffs)

Drew Brees first 4 years in NFL (through age 25 season)
61.3% 8772 yards 56 touchdowns 38 interceptions 204 ypg 83.2 QB Rating

Matthew Stafford first 4 years in NFL (through age 24 season)
59.8% 12807 yards 80 touchdowns 54 interceptions 285 ypg 82.8 QB Rating

Kirk Cousins first 3 years in NFL (through age 26 season)
59% 3030 yards 18 touchdowns 19 interceptions 216 ypg 77.5 QB Rating

Eli Manning first 4 years in NFL (through age 26 season)
54.7% 11385 yards 77 touchdowns 64 interceptions 200 ypg 73.4 QB Rating

Blake Bortles first 4 years in NFL (through age 25 season)
59.1% 14928 yards 90 touchdowns 64 interceptions 240 ypg 80.8 QB Rating (85.5 QB Rating in the playoffs)

Yet everyone would grab any of those QBs in a nanosecond.

Unless you are getting an established top 10 quarterback in free agency you are always running a risk with a high draft pick or a one hit wonder like Flacco. There are only a handful of QBs that would guarantee the Jags immediate improvement at the position next year and the majority are not spring chickens.

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