Report: Jets pleased with Hackenberg's progress

Perhaps the New York Jets won't be so quick to give up on their 2016 second-round pick, after all.

As questions about the quarterback position loom, the club is pleased with how Christian Hackenberg has looked in spring workouts, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports.

The fact that the Penn State product was kept on the sideline for his entire rookie year was understandably considered to be a red flag. A non-contender being unwilling to get its young quarterback on the field didn't exactly do much to dispel the notion that Hackenberg was a project of epic proportions.

In relaying the apparent optimism, Schefter cites the impact of quarterback coach Jeremy Bates, who was hired this offseason after five years in the same role with the Chicago Bears.

While encouraging reports about any player should be taken with a grain of salt at this time of year, it seems possible the Jets are teeing up an opportunity for Hackenberg to show what he can do.

And why wouldn't they?

After opting against addressing the position in the draft, the only other candidates for snaps include veteran free-agent addition Josh McCown and 2015 fourth-rounder Bryce Petty. The ideal strategy, before likely having the opportunity to land a top quarterback prospect next spring, is evaluating what the team has in Hackenberg.

The 22-year-old completed 56.1 percent of his passes across three seasons at Penn State, throwing for 8,457 yards, 48 touchdowns, and 31 interceptions.