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Should the Texans trade for Hackenberg to be Watson's backup?

The Houston Texans have an opening behind Deshaun Watson on the quarterback depth chart. Right now the only other QB on the Texans is Taylor Heinicke and his one NFL pass attempt.
Credit: Mary Langenfeld
Penn State Nittany Lions head coach Bill O'Brien talks to quarterback Christian Hackenberg (14) during the game with the Wisconsin Badgers at Camp Randall Stadium. Penn State defeated Wisconsin 31-24. Mary Langenfeld-USA TODAY Sports

The Houston Texans have an opening behind Deshaun Watson on the quarterback depth chart. Right now the only other QB on the Texans is Taylor Heinicke and his one NFL pass attempt. Heinicke could very well win the job with a full offseason in the Texans system, but expect GM Brian Gaine to at least bring in competition.

A familiar name to both college football fans and Texans coach Bill O’Brien is now available: Christian Hackenberg. The former Penn State wunderkind played for a season under O’Brien with the Nittany Lions and achieved much of his considerable hype in that freshman season.

Hackenberg was a second-round pick of the New York Jets in 2016, but he’s proven to be a colossal bust thus far. Despite an ever-rotating carousel of career backups and late-round picks around him in New York, Hackenberg cannot earn any first-team reps.

Now the Jets appear to be ready to cut their losses. A major trade with the Indianapolis Colts positions the Jets to draft their next would-be franchise QB. They already brought back cagey veteran Josh McCown and signed former Vikings starter Teddy Bridgewater as an injury reclamation project.

There is no room for the disappointing Hackenberg, who couldn’t earn any playing time against the likes of Bryce Petty or Geno Smith.

Expect many in the media to connect the dots and posit a reunification between “Hack” and O’Brien in Houston.

Our take

Just because he’s available and familiar with O’Brien doesn’t mean Hackenberg is a good fit in Houston. His inaccuracy, lack of pocket poise and inability to beat out the underwhelming competition in New York are not going to fix themselves simply by being reunited with the coach who coaxed something productive out of him five years ago. Hard pass.

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