B/R's Matt Miller Suggests Rams Could Draft Penn State QB Christian Hackenberg In 2016 NFL Draft

Up to this point swimming in the mock draft waters, the Los Angeles Rams have frequented the outcomes of landing either a quarterback or Ole Miss WR Laquon Treadwell. The options for the former, though, have centered chiefly around Memphis QB Paxton Lynch with North Dakota State QB Carson Wentz and Cal QB Jared Goff. Perhaps, though, that's too short-listed of a set of options...

Enter Penn St. QB Christian Hackenberg thanks to Bleacher Report's Matt Miller...

The one #Rams pick that wouldn't surprise me... Christian Hackenberg in Round 1 @TurfShowTimes

— Matt Miller (@nfldraftscout) February 28, 2016

Hackenberg's a tough nut to crack as a prospect. Tool-wise, he's got much of what you're looking for in an NFL quarterback. And after his true freshman season with the Nittany Lions in 2013, he was on track to be a top draft pick. After two disappointing seasons in 2014 and '15, though, Hackenberg has all but pushed himself out of Day 1 contention and carries some serious concerns for many as a Day 2 option.

Still, with the skill set and having cut down big time on interceptions, you wonder if the accuracy issues aren't something he could work out as he gets back to the promise he showed as a top QB prospect out of HS.

If we're considering the prospect of the Rams taking Hackenberg, it's worth bringing up the Houston Texans. With a need at QB and sitting behind the Rams with the 22nd overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, there's reason to think Hackenberg might in fact not make it out of the first...noting that Texans Head Coach Bill O'Brien coached Hackenberg in his freshman season at PSU before leaving for his NFL gig. That alone has Texans fans anticipating a Hackenberg-O'Brien reunion...

As for the Rams, it's worth keeping in mind that nothing is written in stone. The combine (technically) isn't even over. We haven't gotten to pro days. Franchise and transition tags have yet to be applied. Free agency hasn't come in and washed over rosters setting up the draft stage.

Nothing is inconceivable...not even Rams first-round pick Christian Hackenberg.