The Jets began OTAs on Tuesday and then made a major transaction when they traded quarterback Christian Hackenberg to the Raiders later in the day. Here are some thoughts and observations from the practice and the trade:
1. It became clear Tuesday that the Jets were going to have to get rid of Hackenberg. The only reason I could see for keeping him around during the spring and training camp was if Teddy Bridgewater was not healthy. In that case, he would have been the No. 3 quarterback and gotten some reps. With Bridgewater healthy, there were no reps for him. Hackenberg needs reps. He is still a project who is developing. Standing and watching does nothing for him.
The other part of this is Hackenberg’s name. His name is bigger than his game right now. Because of his college career and getting drafted in the second round, he was always a story for the media. There was intense interest in Hackenberg, and he was always a topic of conversation. That is fine if he is playing well and in line to be the starter. It becomes a distraction if he is the fourth quarterback on your depth chart. In some ways, it was similar to the Tim Tebow saga of 2012, when the coverage dwarfed the actual production.
Hackenberg came as close to expressing displeasure with the Jets as he ever did Tuesday afternoon. It was clear he wanted his time with the Jets to be over as much as anyone.
A few hours later, the Jets completed the trade with the Raiders. I believe the Jets when they say his comments did not influence the trade. Clearly, they had been working on this. I think those comments just drove home the point it was time for a break for both sides.
The selection of Hackenberg in the second round of the 2016 draft was awful. The Jets reached, and it set the tone for his career. It put unfair expectations on Hackenberg and created an intense spotlight. If he had been drafted in the fifth or sixth round, there would not have been the same desire or expectation to see him play.
We can’t put Hackenberg in the same category as Lam Jones, Blair Thomas, Vernon Gholston or Dee Milliner, who were all top-10 picks who could not play. However, second-round picks are expected to be major contributors. Hackenberg did not play a snap. It was a huge blunder by GM Mike Maccagnan.
2. My biggest takeaway from the actual practice is that wide receiver is going to be the most fascinating position to watch in training camp … in the non-quarterback division. The Jets have a bunch of receivers, and it will be interesting to watch it shake out.
Robby Anderson established himself last year as a go-to target for Josh McCown, which was on display again Tuesday. He was targeted on several deep passes.
Quincy Enunwa did not participate in team drills, but looked good running routes in individual drills as he comes back from the neck surgery that cost him last season. If Enunwa can recapture his 2016 form, the Jets would have some weapons.
Jermaine Kearse was his steady self. He made a few beautiful grabs in the practice and continued to show he is a pro’s pro.
The biggest surprise to me was Chad Hansen. He looked more confident than last year and put a really nice move on Morris Claiborne at one point.
The Jets also have several receivers on the roster who have been around for a while. This is not just a bunch of undrafted free agents pushing to make the team. Charles Johnson and Andre Roberts both made some plays Tuesday.
Terrelle Pryor did not participate in the OTA, and coach Todd Bowles said he has suffered another ankle injury. That is what hurt him last year in Washington, so it is a cause for concern. Still, it is May. If he is unable to practice when training camp gets here, then it is a big deal.
3. The Jets still are far behind some teams with the top of their roster, but the Jets have really improved the back end of their roster. That may not seem like a big deal, but I believe it was a huge part of their special teams struggles in recent years. Players 35-53 did not belong on an NFL roster in some years. Those are the guys you lean on for special teams, where the Jets have been terrible.
Now, you can see the Jets have some guys who are in their second or third year who are developing, and they have added some veterans to the roster who may not have gotten much attention when they signed but could be key contributors in the fall. Running back, wide receiver, offensive line, defensive line, inside linebacker and cornerback all appear deeper than they have been in a while.