The Jaguars trade for Cody Kessler, and I like the move. They’re in need of a backup quarterback, and he looks like a nice fit.
Kessler has a pop-gun arm, limiting his long-term potential. I don’t think he will ever develop into a starter. He couldn’t even win the backup job on an 0-16 team last year, for crying out loud.
But Kessler is accurate, and he takes care of the ball. He completed over 68 percent of his passes his last two years at Southern Cal, with 68 touchdowns versus only 12 interceptions. That’s better college production than Sam Darnold, who’s more physically talented but completed only 63 percent of his passes last year, with 26 TDs and 13 interceptions.
Kessler played about half of the 2016 season for the Browns and completed 66 percent of his passes, with just 2 interceptions.
Lacking much arm strength, Kessler wasn’t a fit with Cleveland (and most other teams). He can’t hit the big passes downfield. But he might turn into a serviceable enough backup – a guy who can come in, take care of the ball, and connect on short passes underneath. He's a better "game manager" than their starter, Blake Bortles.
In the last 10 years, 33 rookie quarterbacks have attempted at least 100 passes. Only four of those players finished with a higher passer rating than Kessler.
| ROOKIE QUARTERBACKS, LAST 10 YEARS | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Player | Pct | Yards | TD | Int | Rate |
| 2016 | Dak Prescott, Dall. | 67.8% | 3,667 | 23 | 4 | 104.9 |
| 2017 | Deshaun Watson, Hou. | 61.8% | 1,699 | 19 | 8 | 103.0 |
| 2012 | Robert Griffin III, Wash. | 65.6% | 3,200 | 20 | 5 | 102.4 |
| 2012 | Russell Wilson, Sea. | 64.1% | 3,118 | 26 | 10 | 100.0 |
| 2016 | Cody Kessler, Clev. | 65.6% | 1,380 | 6 | 2 | 92.3 |
| 2015 | Marcus Mariota, Tenn. | 62.2% | 2,818 | 19 | 10 | 91.5 |
| 2008 | Matt Ryan, Atl. | 61.1% | 3,440 | 16 | 11 | 87.7 |
| 2014 | Teddy Bridgewater, Minn. | 64.4% | 2,919 | 14 | 12 | 85.2 |
| 2011 | Cam Newton, Car. | 60.0% | 4,051 | 21 | 17 | 84.5 |
| 2015 | Jameis Winston, T.B. | 58.3% | 4,042 | 22 | 15 | 84.2 |
| 2013 | Mike Glennon, T.B. | 59.4% | 2,608 | 19 | 9 | 83.9 |
| 2012 | Nick Foles, Phil. | 63.1% | 1,699 | 6 | 5 | 82.1 |
| 2011 | Andy Dalton, Cin. | 58.1% | 3,398 | 20 | 13 | 80.4 |
| 2008 | Joe Flacco, Balt. | 60.0% | 2,971 | 14 | 12 | 80.3 |
| 2016 | Carson Wentz, Phil. | 62.4% | 3,782 | 16 | 14 | 79.3 |
| 2013 | EJ Manuel, Buff. | 58.8% | 1,972 | 11 | 9 | 77.7 |
| 2017 | Mitchell Trubisky, Chi. | 59.4% | 2,193 | 7 | 7 | 77.5 |
| 2014 | Derek Carr, Oak. | 58.1% | 3,270 | 21 | 12 | 76.6 |
| 2012 | Andrew Luck, Ind. | 54.1% | 4,374 | 23 | 18 | 76.5 |
| 2010 | Sam Bradford, St.L. | 60.0% | 3,512 | 18 | 15 | 76.5 |
| 2012 | Ryan Tannehill, Mia. | 58.3% | 3,294 | 12 | 13 | 76.1 |
| 2010 | Colt McCoy, Clev. | 60.8% | 1,576 | 6 | 9 | 74.5 |
| 2012 | Brandon Weeden, Clev. | 57.4% | 3,385 | 14 | 17 | 72.6 |
| 2011 | Christian Ponder, Minn. | 54.3% | 1,853 | 13 | 13 | 70.1 |
| 2014 | Blake Bortles, Jac. | 58.9% | 2,908 | 11 | 17 | 69.5 |
| 2013 | Geno Smith, NYJ | 55.8% | 3,046 | 12 | 21 | 66.5 |
| 2011 | Blaine Gabbert, Jac. | 50.8% | 2,214 | 12 | 11 | 65.4 |
| 2016 | Jared Goff, LAR | 54.6% | 1,089 | 5 | 7 | 63.6 |
| 2009 | Mark Sanchez, NYJ | 53.8% | 2,444 | 12 | 20 | 63.0 |
| 2009 | Matthew Stafford, Det. | 53.3% | 2,267 | 13 | 20 | 61.0 |
| 2017 | DeShone Kizer, Clev. | 53.6% | 2,894 | 11 | 22 | 60.5 |
| 2009 | Josh Freeman, T.B. | 54.5% | 1,855 | 10 | 18 | 59.8 |
| 2010 | Jimmy Clausen, Car. | 52.5% | 1,558 | 3 | 9 | 58.4 |
—Ian Allan