Jets Trade QB Christian Hackenberg To Raiders For Seventh Round Pick
Never having played an in-season NFL game, quarterback Christian Hackenberg, 23, was traded Tuesday to the Oakland Raiders. In return for Hackenberg, the New York Jets will receive a 2019 conditional seventh-round pick.
The trade came Tuesday afternoon, coincidentally after Hackenberg spoke with the media about his frustrations with the Jets lack of coaching. He criticized the coaching staff for not assisting him with weaknesses in his throw. Yet, the coaching staff reassured that they just had too many quarterbacks to give them all a chance. True enough, the Jets quarterback roster consists of latest NFL Draft pick Sam Darnold, Josh McCown and Teddy Bridgewater.
Hackenberg was taken in the second round of the 2016 NFL draft, 51st overall. The Jets drafted the Penn State quarterback knowing that it would take time to develop him but never knowing for sure if Hackenberg would be worth the wait.
He did manage to get himself a stat line in last year’s preseason, completing 42 of 74 passes for 372 yards. He also scored 2 touchdowns, 2 interceptions, and 9 sacks. In most cases, this would be a poor and unacceptable fight for a starting position as QB.However, as the saying goes, “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure”, and although the NY Jets were not able to find the potential within Hackenberg, the Raiders and new head coach Jon Gruden just might. The Raiders are set with their starting quarterback, Derek Carr, who recently signed a $125 million dollar contract extension in the summer of 2017.
Still, the backup quarterback position is a possible slot for Hackenberg, he would just have to compete against both Connor Cook and E.J. Manuel. Hackenberg brings youth to the table but lacks experience. It also helps that Coach Gruden was fond of Hackenberg back in 2016 when Gruden worked for ESPN.
Nobody should be surprised that Raiders’ HC Jon Gruden traded today for former Jets’ QB Christian Hackenberg considering this: pic.twitter.com/Um4S1IFC7a
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) May 22, 2018
Gruden very much thought that Hackenberg would be a successful quarterback if he was drafted into the adequate structure. The Jets’ system was clearly not it, and now it’s the Raiders turn to see if they can make Hackenberg one of their own.