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NFL DRAFT
Christian Hackenberg

Ranking NFL's second-round QBs since 2000: Is Christian Hackenberg biggest bust?

Nate Davis
USA TODAY
New York Jets quarterback Christian Hackenberg (5) in action against the Tennessee Titans during a preseason game at MetLife Stadium.

Since 2000, 20 quarterbacks have been taken in the second round of the NFL draft. 

Christian Hackenberg shapes up as the biggest bust of that group after the Oakland Raiders waived him Tuesday, just three weeks after dealing with the New York Jets, who now have nothing to show for the trade (or the pick they burned two years ago) since the conditional selection they'd obtained from Oakland was contingent on Hackenberg developing into more than a camp arm. 

Hackenberg's heretofore failure is emblematic of what a crapshoot drafting quarterbacks can be — and second rounders in the 21st Century are an especially fascinating sample given their range of accomplishments (and lack thereof).

Here's how I rank them, worst to first:

20. Christian Hackenberg (Jets, No. 51 overall in 2016): He hasn't earned a single regular-season snap and rarely even made the game day roster. GM Mike Maccagnan was roundly criticized at the time — justifiably it turned out — for investing such a high selection in Hackenberg, who flashed compelling physical traits at Penn State but not the pocket presence, consistency or other intangibles demanded of NFL passers.

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19. Pat White (Dolphins, No. 44 in 2009): Then-GM Jeff Ireland thought the undersized West Virginia star might take Miami's trendy Wildcat package to an astronomical level. Oops. As a rookie, White rushed 21 times for 81 yards but didn't complete any of his five passes. He never played in the NFL again.

18. Brian Brohm (Packers, No. 56 in 2008): He peaked at Louisville, where he once seemed destined to be a first rounder. But Brohm was quickly beaten out by Matt Flynn, a Green Bay seventh rounder in the same draft class, and had washed out by 2011 after making two starts for Buffalo.

17. Marques Tuiasosopo (Raiders, No. 59 in 2001): He hung around for eight years, mostly in Oakland, but was never a threat to displace Rich Gannon ... or anyone else.

16. John Beck (Dolphins, No. 40 in 2007): Perceived upside fooled Miami into overdrafting him as well. Beck lost all seven of his NFL starts, including four as a rookie. The Dolphins didn't hesitate to sign Chad Pennington and draft Chad Henne in 2008.

15. Jimmy Clausen (Panthers, No. 48 in 2010): Once viewed as a Round 1 lock, he tumbled and promptly proved why, going 1-9 in an abysmal rookie season. At least Clausen put Carolina in position to replace him the following year with Cam Newton.

14. Geno Smith (Jets, No. 39 in 2013): Unlike Hackenberg, Smith seemed like a relative bargain after once being considered a potential top-10 pick. But after failing to adapt to a pro offense and, more notably, being painted as a locker room pariah in New York, Smith now seems relegated to journeyman status.

13. Kellen Clemens (Jets, No. 49 in 2006): Noticing a green-and-white theme? Clemens played sparingly, with 17 of his 21 (mostly unspectacular) NFL starts compressed into two seasons. But he has hung around for a long time, though it seems 2017 might have been his final year backing up Philip Rivers.

12. DeShone Kizer (Browns, No. 52 in 2017): He's still got tantalizing upside, hence a relatively high slot in this ranking. But few (including Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly) thought Kizer should go pro early — and being thrust into Cleveland's woeful lineup didn't help. Kizer went 0-15 as a rookie but remains a viable prospect who could greatly benefit in his new role as Aaron Rodgers' understudy in Green Bay following an offseason trade.

11. Kevin Kolb (Eagles, No. 36 in 2007): Philadelphia thought enough of him to deal Donovan McNabb in 2010. However a series of concussions short-circuited Kolb's opportunities with the Eagles and, later, the Cardinals and Bills.

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10. Tarvaris Jackson (Vikings, No. 64 in 2006): He had some nice stretches with Minnesota and Seattle, but gave way to Brett Favre and Russell Wilson, respectively.

9. Quincy Carter (Cowboys, No. 53 in 2001): He had the unenviable task of trying to replace Troy Aikman but did manage to lead Dallas to a 10-6 record and the playoffs in 2003. However citing Carter's personal demons, Bill Parcells cut him prior to the 2004 season, which Carter spent with the Jets before disappearing from the NFL forever.

8. Drew Stanton (Lions, No. 43 in 2007): He didn't contribute much to some bad Detroit teams but has carved out a niche as a No. 2 over the years. He kept the 2014 Cardinals on their playoff path following Carson Palmer's season-ending injury and prior to Stanton's own. Now he's trying to stick on a crowded Cleveland depth chart.

7. Chad Henne (Dolphins, No. 57 in 2008): He didn't pan out, either, for a team that's long sought Dan Marino's successor. But Henne has settled in as a coveted clipboard carrier who should help mentor Patrick Mahomes in Kansas City this year after doing the same for Blake Bortles in Jacksonville.

6. Brock Osweiler (Broncos, No. 57 in 2012): Give him credit as a key component of Denver's Super Bowl drive in 2015. Give him more credit for parlaying seven NFL starts into a four-year, $72 million deal in Houston shortly thereafter. Alas, now-itinerant Osweiler (he's wearing a Dolphins uni for the time being) has earned few props since, even if he did pocket a huge wad of Houston's money before being dumped a year into his contract.

5. Jimmy Garoppolo (Patriots, No. 62 in 2014): The arrow is decidedly aimed vertically after Garoppolo won all five of his starts last season, when he was obtained by a San Francisco squad appreciably less talented than what "Jimmy GQ" left behind in New England. The 49ers and their fans are clearly expecting far more moving forward after Garoppolo signed a five-year, $137.5 million contract in February, still a hefty gamble for a player with just seven career starts.

4. Colin Kaepernick (49ers, No. 36 in 2011): Judging him purely on performance, his physical gifts and ability to dominate a game — who will forget what he did to the Packers (263 yards passing, 181 yards rushing, 4 total TDs) in the 2012 playoffs? — were mind-blowing. Yet the flaws were just as frustrating. Say what you will about his politics, but a man who came within a whisker of earning a Super Bowl ring five years ago should still have an NFL home.

3. Andy Dalton (Bengals, No. 35 in 2011): The glass definitely skews closer to full. Dalton has been reliable and steady if unspectacular for seven years. No one else can claim he led Cincinnati to the playoffs in five consecutive seasons.

2. Derek Carr (Raiders, No. 36 in 2014): He's been productive enough to briefly hold the (flawed) mantle as the NFL's highest-paid player last summer after an MVP-caliber 2016 effort. If there was a 2014 redraft, you'd have to assume Carr would go ahead of first rounders Bortles, Johnny Manziel and Teddy Bridgewater.

1. Drew Brees (Chargers, No. 32 in 2001): He'd qualify as a first rounder today but came off the board at the top of Round 2 in 2001, a year before the Texans came into existence. A native Texan himself, Brees has since embarked on a stellar career, mostly after joining the Saints in 2006. A Super Bowl MVP in 2009 and surefire first-ballot Hall of Famer, he'll likely overtake Peyton Manning as the NFL's all-time leader in career passing yards sometime this October.

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Follow Nate Davis on Twitter @ByNateDavis

 

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