New York Jets GM Mike Maccagnan Comments on Christian Hackenberg, QB Situation

New York Jets general manager Mike Maccagnan does not want to rule out Christian Hackenberg playing in 2016.  

Maccagnan said Monday it would be better for the second-round rookie quarterback from Penn State to have time to sit and develop, but he noted Hackenberg could play depending on the team's quarterback situation and how he develops in camp.

"In a perfect world, you'd like to...give those guys a chance to sort of grow, develop, before you have to throw 'em into the fire," Maccagnan said on ESPN Radio (via Seth Walder of the New York Daily News). "Hopefully if we can re-sign Ryan (Fitzpatrick) and we have Geno [Smith], kind of go from there and see how we do."

The Jets took Hackenberg with the 51st pick on Friday. He was the first quarterback off the board on Day 2 of the 2016 NFL draft. New York is in contract limbo with last year's starting quarterback, Ryan Fitzpatrick, who reportedly said he'd rather sit out this year than play for the Jets' offer of $7-8 million per year, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.

"With any player coming into the league, there's definitely a maturation process. And it doesn't matter what position you play. I think quarterbacks are probably one of the harder positions to transition to the NFL," Maccagnan said, per Walder. "The reality of it is, though, is it's going to be determined by how he does."

Maccagnan said drafting Hackenberg was not a sign the team was moving on from Fitzpatrick, but the Jets have to be concerned with their incumbent's status. New York's depth chart consists of Geno Smith, Bryce Petty and Hackenberg. Smith is the only one of those three to have in-game experience, and the Jets finished 10-6 with Fitzpatrick under center last year.

If they can't come to an agreement with Fitzpatrick, the Jets could regress heavily after taking a step forward in 2015.