One thing that I think is being almost completely overlooked in this judgement of Cody v Blake is the fact that Kessler is essentially still playing his rookie season in the NFL.

People seem to be evaluating him as a finished product, in the way you'd evaluate any true vet QB who ended up starting (such as Henne). But Kessler is 25 years old and has 10 starts in the NFL, this is nowhere near to a finished product. Imagine if Kessler was a highly thought of QB that the Jags had drafted somewhere in the first few rounds a few drafts ago, and he'd sat on the bench learning the ropes until now and just got his chance to start this season. I feel the way people look at him would be very different.

First of all, let's look at his career stats through ten games. 1-9 ain't a good look, but everyone can surely agree that this kid has been handed the roughest of hands in terms of his surrounding offense, both at the putrid browns and now our injury ravaged (and average to start with) Jags. Stats-wise he has a 64.4% completion percentage and 2:1 td/int ratio, while that doesn't scream franchise QB, I think it's actually rather impressive considering the circumstances. And again, if it is viewed as a QB playing his first full season in the NFL it is certainly a good start.

More important than the stats though is how he actually looks on the field. He has been making some beautiful throws, throws that Bortles could never make. Tight spirals on the run with a quick release. He shows power and touch on his passes. He has also shown some weaknesses in pocket presence and general reading of the game. Again, as a young QB playing essentially his first full season, this is to be expected.

What's most important is his ability to actually throw the football, and in that regard he has shown great promise. His weaknesses like pocket presence and reading of the game are things that a young QB can develop with experience, mechanics and technique as a QB are more natural things that you either have or you don't. He does.

I'm not suggesting that Kessler is our franchise QB and we are set for the future, not at all. I absolutely think we should take a QB in the first round next year. But personally I am excited about Kessler's potential as a QB because I see a young player who has the physical tools to succeed and potential to grow as a player. When we evaluate young players like Taven Bryan and DJ Chark we are willing to overlook their struggles this season because we see long-term potential in them, why do we not look at Kessler in the same way?

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