The New York Jets on Tuesday traded former Penn State quarterback Christian Hackenberg to the Oakland Raiders a conditional seventh round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft.
Hackenberg, who will be in his third NFL season, spoke to reporters at the Jets’ first OTA and just prior to the trade announcement. Seemingly aware a trade was in the offing, he said he spent the offseason fixing his throwing motion. When asked why it took so long for the quarterback to address these “inefficiencies,” Hackenberg said he didn’t know and spoke about the lack of guidance he received from the Jets coaching staff.
“I think there were some times where I threw it really good throughout my first two years here, so that was the frustrating part for me, is the ups and downs and not knowing why, if that makes sense, and not really getting any information from anybody on how to fix that and how do address it,” he said.
Christian Hackenberg: ‘That was the frustrating part for me, the ups and downs and not knowing why…and not really getting any information from anybody on how to fix that and how to address it.’ pic.twitter.com/BhQEgmcrlu
— SportsNet New York (@SNYtv) May 22, 2018
After selecting Penn State’s former No. 14 in the second round of the 2016 NFL Draft, the Jets never used Hackenberg in regular season action. Josh McCown and Bryce Petty were ahead of Hackenberg in the pecking order during his two seasons in New York.
The Jets’ offseason additions of free agent Teddy Bridgewater and No. 3 overall pick Sam Darnold created an even larger logjam at quarterback for Todd Bowles’ team and Hackenberg’s departure from New York seemed inevitable.
“He’s allowed to be critical. We suggest things and we try to fix every player possible that we have,” Jets head coach Todd Bowles told the media after the trade. “It just didn’t work out here.”
Bowles said the trade had been in the works for some time and Hackenberg’s remarks played no role in it
Hackenberg is now one of four quarterbacks on the Raiders’ roster, joining starter Derek Carr, former Bills starter EJ Manuel, and Michigan State standout Connor Cook.
Hackenberg’s success at Penn State never translated to the NFL level with the Jets. In three seasons as a Nittany Lion, he threw for 8,457 yards and 48 touchdowns, leading the offense through the program’s final seasons without postseason eligibility in the post-Sandusky scandal era.
He’s remembered most by Penn State fans for his heroics in an upset victory over No. 18 Michigan under White Out conditions.
