Inside the Iggles
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5 Thoughts on Christian Hackenberg signing with the Philadelphia Eagles

By Geoffrey Knox

FOXBORO, MA - DECEMBER 31: Christian Hackenberg #5 of the New York Jets warms up before the game against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on December 31, 2017 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
FOXBORO, MA - DECEMBER 31: Christian Hackenberg #5 of the New York Jets warms up before the game against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on December 31, 2017 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /
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EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – AUGUST 26: Christian Hackenberg #5 of the New York Jets calls out the play in the first quarter against the New York Giants during a preseason game on August 26, 2017 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – AUGUST 26: Christian Hackenberg #5 of the New York Jets calls out the play in the first quarter against the New York Giants during a preseason game on August 26, 2017 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /

4. Why hasn’t some of that collegiate success translated to the NFL?

The answer to that question is relatively easy. Collegiate success doesn’t guarantee a sustained NFL career. Look at all the Heisman Trophy winners who flopped.

As a true freshman, Hackenberg earned Big Ten Freshman of the week honors five times, and at the end of the season, he was named  2013 Big Ten Football Freshman of the Year.

Still, you always have to be concerned about a second-round draft choice whose career completion percentage was less than sixty percent. Hackenburg’s best season at the collegiate level was his first. He completed 58.9 percent of his passes. He threw 20 touchdowns and ten interceptions.

Over the next two seasons, he threw a total of 28 touchdowns and 21 interceptions. He had a completion percentage of 55.8 in 2014 and 53.3 in 2015.

When you think of it like that, it’s hard to imagine why he was taken in the second round.

5. What are the Eagles, themselves, saying about this signing?

Eagles insider Dave Spadaro recently weighed in. There are still three preseason games remaining. To quote Spadaro, this is a ‘no harm, no foul’ move. Philly’s still putting together a roster. Nate Sudfeld is a free agent after the 2018 season. Who knows how long Foles is going to play?

Philly probably simply wants to see if Hackenberg has anything left. It won’t take long to see if he does. We at ITI believe, when it’s all said and done, Philly’s quarterback room will look the same way it did a season ago with Wentz, Foles and Sudfeld. We’ve been wrong before though.

Don’t think for a second that Hackenberg came here to get cut. Whether he does or doesn’t is completely up to him and how he performs.

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