Christian Hackenberg Making Late Moves In NFL Draft Silly Season

The 2016 NFL Draft is coming. We’re at peak frenzy. Your quarterback making a late move during discussion season? Christian Hackenberg.

Jon Gruden, who loves everyone, will be shocked if Hackenberg isn’t a 1st round pick. Chris Fallica wouldn’t be surprised if he’s a first round pick. The Sporting News does not think taking him in the 1st round is a terrible idea. He’s even (not being compared to but) being compared to Brett Favre.

This brewing consensus comes less than three weeks after Pro Football Focus argued he shouldn’t be drafted.

Hackenberg’s story is familiar. He has tools. He didn’t have a great supporting cast at Penn State. His college stats were subpar. Fully formed as a junior, he ranked 89th nationally in passer rating and 72nd in yards/attempt (9th in the Big Ten in both categories). James Franklin trusted him so little Penn State would run up the middle on 3rd and 5.

One can absolve Hackenberg for his college production. Penn State’s offensive line was a disaster. No one would have played well behind it. Going from Bill O'Brien to James Franklin and staff was probably a downgrade.

One can blame Hackenberg for his college production. Quarterback error accounted for some of his horrific sack totals. The number differential his final two years can be attributed to Allen Robinson leaving.

Quarterback with physical potential who wasn’t good in college learning on the fly in the NFL? That sounds a lot like Jake Locker and Blaine Gabbert. Neither panned out, though that potential was appealing enough to get both chosen in the Top 10 picks.

Hackenberg ending up in the first round is conceivable. Quarterbacks make NFL front offices do crazy things. We’re just waiting to see whether James Franklin tries to sell the fact he coached a 1st round draft pick to recruits.