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Penn State Football: QB Christian Hackenberg traded from New York Jets

By Barry Leonard Jr.

FOXBORO, MA - DECEMBER 31: Christian Hackenberg #5 of the New York Jets warms up before the game against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on December 31, 2017 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
FOXBORO, MA - DECEMBER 31: Christian Hackenberg #5 of the New York Jets warms up before the game against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on December 31, 2017 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /
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Former Penn State quarterback Christian Hackenberg has been traded from the New York Jets

Once a second-round pick in the 2016 NFL Draft of the New York Jets, Christian Hackenberg will try to jumpstart his professional career in a new city. The Jets traded Hackenberg to the  Oakland Raiders in exchange for a seventh-round conditional pick.  New York head coach Todd Bowels announced the move Tuesday.

Hackenberg was a member of the Jets for two years, but never took a snap outside of the preseason. The Jets enter 2018 with a crowded depth chart at quarterback including Teddy Bridgewater and Josh McCown. USC star Sam Darnold was selected No. 3 overall in this year’s NFL Draft.

Coming out of high school, Hackenberg was a five-star recruit and considered the best quarterback available in the 2013 class. He entered Penn State with a lot of hype and chose to honor his commitment despite the program getting hit with damaging NCAA sanctions.

He excelled under head coach Bill O’Brien and went on to earn Big Ten Freshman of the Year honors in 2013. That year, he threw for 2,955 yards and 20 touchdowns.

Unfortunately for Hackenberg, he was never really able to find the success that he had as a freshman. O’Brien left for the NFL after that season and Hackenberg never really fit into new head coach James Franklin’s offensive system.

Hackenberg left Penn State a year early and declared for the draft after amassing over 8,000 passing yards for the Nittany Lions.

After struggling at the end of his college career it was a bit of surprise to see the Jets take him in the second round. Their gamble clearly didn’t work out and they decided to cut their losses.

The change of scenery and coaching staff could be just what Hackenberg needs. His new coach, Jon Gruden, thought very highly of Hackenberg coming out of Penn State and even featured him on his QB Camp segment that used to run on ESPN.

It won’t be easy though for Hackenberg to see the field in Oakland, as he will once again find himself in a battle for playing time. Derek Carr is clearly entrenched as the starter, so Hackenberg will have to battle for a backup role with E.J. Manuel and Connor Cook.

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