The Eagles have agreed to sign free agent quarterback Christian Hackenberg, a source tells Tom Pelissero of NFL.com (Twitter link). Philadelphia has since announced the move as a one-year deal and added that it’s waived/injured center Ian Park.
Philadelphia, of course, is moving starting quarterback Carson Wentz along slowly as he recovers from a torn ACL, while backup and Super Bowl MVP Nick Foles is dealing with a minor neck injury that kept him out of practice for several days. But the Eagles are reportedly high on third-stringer Nate Sudfeld, and also have Joe Callahan on their roster, so practice reps might be limited for Hackenberg.
The signing of Hackenberg does not reflect on either Wentz or Foles’ injuries, per Pelissero, who adds the Eagles simply are taking a chance to develop a still youthful quarterback, one who comes with second-round pedigree. With Wentz likely to sit out the entirety of the preseason, Hackenberg could conceivably see snaps as the exhibition season draws to a close.
The Jets selected Hackenberg with the 51st overall pick in the 2016 draft, but he never saw the field during two regular season campaigns. New York traded the now-23-year-old to the Raiders in May (adding a 2019 seventh-round pick that contained conditions that were not met), but Hackenberg lasted less than month on Oakland’s roster. He subsequently met with the Patriots, but hadn’t yet landed a new contract with any club.
So I wonder if Burger King will shake things up this year?
Bust
He hasn’t played enough to make that determination yet so there must be other issues holding him back. In any event there isn’t much risk to the Eagles in taking a chance on him.
He’s a 2nd rounder who literally hasn’t played…bust.
I think QBs should be held to a different standard here though. Many great QBs had to sit for a while waiting for their opportunity, like Rodgers and Brady did. There’s really no in-game use for a back up QB while backups at any other position usually get some game reps. The Jets chose not to give him a sufficient opportunity to play and showed no patience with him. He may very well be a bust but he hasn’t been given a real chance to prove that to this point
The Jets handling of him and the other QBs on their roster absolutely ruined them, and stunted this guys growth.
Totally agree with you sidewinder. Jimmy Garoppolo probably would have been labeled a bust had he remained in the shadow of Brady. A change of scenery has given him the opportunity to show what he can do and he has made the most of that.
Hope he gets his career on track , could really see him as a valuable career backup like Colt McCoy
Surprised the Patriots didn’t want a more youthful backup than just Brian Hoyer.
Hoyer will never set any passing records but he provides good ball security.
The Eagles are so high on Sudfeld I can’t see this working. Unless they trade Foles, I see Hackenburg getting a bunch of preseason work (like fellow State Penn QB McGloin last year) and then getting cut when the preseason ends.
It’s just a body to play preseason. Sudfeld plays too long and then he’s the next one injured. Gives other teams a chance to look at him without using their roster spot on him. Good for him.
If Hack doesn’t have a stud line in front of him he sucks. Been that way for 6 years
The Eagles have led the league in time of possession the past 2 seasons so any QB would love the chance to work behind that OL.