The New York Jets have had a history of quarterback busts, with seven quarterbacks taken in the first or second round since 2000. Chad Pennington has been the most successful out of the group, which includes Mark Sanchez, Kellen Clemens, Geno Smith, Christian Hackenberg, Sam Darnold, and Zach Wilson. Even a four-time MVP like Aaron Rodgers, who was traded to the Jets, suffered an injury on his fourth play with the team. Hackenberg, one of the quarterbacks drafted, mentioned that the Jets seemed to have “no plan” during his time with the team.
Hackenberg was selected by the Jets in the 2016 NFL Draft, even though they already had quarterbacks like Geno Smith and Ryan Fitzpatrick. The decision to draft Hackenberg, despite his potential, did not seem to make sense to many. Hackenberg himself acknowledged that New York may not have been the best fit for him due to the high expectations and lack of clear development opportunities. Ultimately, Hackenberg never played in a regular-season game for the Jets or in the NFL at all, and was eventually traded for a seventh-round pick in 2018.
Despite being highly regarded in high school and college, Hackenberg was unable to live up to the hype and draft stock he had coming into the NFL. He admitted that he still had a lot to improve on when he entered the league and struggled with the pressure and expectations placed on him. The Jets have not made the playoffs since 2010, further highlighting their ongoing struggles to find a successful quarterback. Hackenberg’s experience with the team reflects the challenges and uncertainties that many quarterbacks have faced when trying to make it in the NFL.
The Jets’ history of quarterback busts raises questions about the team’s decision-making and development processes when it comes to selecting and nurturing talent at the quarterback position. The lack of consistency and success at the quarterback position has been a significant factor in the team’s inability to make the playoffs in recent years. The struggles of quarterbacks like Hackenberg illustrate the difficulties that young players face when trying to establish themselves in a competitive and demanding league like the NFL.
In retrospect, Hackenberg acknowledged that he may not have been fully prepared for the challenges of the NFL when he entered the league. The combination of external expectations and internal doubts added to the pressure he faced as a young player trying to prove himself at the highest level. Moving forward, the Jets will need to address their quarterback issues and find a long-term solution to ensure competitiveness and success in the league. With the right plan and development strategies in place, the Jets may be able to break the cycle of quarterback busts and establish stability at the position.
