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Best 2016 NFL Draft quarterback prospects

By Matt Verderame

Oct 24, 2014; Santa Clara, CA, USA; California Golden Bears quarterback Jared Goff (16) throws the ball against the Oregon Ducks in the third quarter at Levi
Oct 24, 2014; Santa Clara, CA, USA; California Golden Bears quarterback Jared Goff (16) throws the ball against the Oregon Ducks in the third quarter at Levi /
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Penn State Nittany Lions quarterback Christian Hackenberg (14) looks to throw a pass during the third quarter against the Indiana Hoosiers at Beaver Stadium. Penn State defeated Indiana 29-7. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O
Penn State Nittany Lions quarterback Christian Hackenberg (14) looks to throw a pass during the third quarter against the Indiana Hoosiers at Beaver Stadium. Penn State defeated Indiana 29-7. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O /

4. Christian Hackenberg

Hackenberg will be hotly debated throughout the entire draft process. On one hand, he just looks like an NFL quarterback. For those of you out there that don’t think that matters, take a look at guys like Todd Marinovich and Dan McGwire, and then get back to me. It certainly matters, and the Penn State product has the look in spades.

Here’s the rub: Hackenberg has put up terrible numbers for any college football quarterback, let alone somebody who wants to be drafted in the NFL. This year, he played on a decent Nittany Lions teams and threw 16 touchdowns against five interceptions. While those stats are not overwhelming, though decent enough, the 53.3 completion percentage is enough to scare you to the core. It is not an off-season either, because in 2014, he completed 55.8 percent of his throws. In fact, his accuracy has gotten worse each year.

Yet, NFL scouts see a big arm, a great body type and the tools which they can work with. Hackenberg should not be taken high in this draft, but by the end of the second day, some team could pull the trigger in hopes of landing a prospect who is a late-bloomer. The quarterback position is famously hard to summarize, and Hackenberg will put many in a quandary.

Next: No. 3

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