Eric Decker ‘surprised’ by Christian Hackenberg pick: Jets have other needs

Eric Decker is among the New York Jets veteran players who want the team to re-sign Ryan Fitzpatrick, which is why the wide receiver does not seem thrilled about using a second-round draft pick on a quarterback.

Decker said Tuesday that he was “surprised” the Jets selected former Penn State quarterback Christian Hackenberg at No. 51 overall. He hinted that he feels the team should have addressed other needs.

“I was a little surprised, to be honest,” Decker said, per Dom Cosentino of NJ.com. “Honestly, we have certain needs. But again I’m not in the war room, I don’t scout and say, ‘Hey, this is what our five-year projection looks like.’ Because of what we did last year with Fitzpatrick and … to get a quarterback in the second round, that’s a big decision. You’re saying a lot about him and what he means to the franchise.”

Of course, it is no guarantee that the Jets will still have Fitzpatrick in 2016. The 33-year-old remains a free agent after having a career year. If New York does re-sign Fitzpatrick, there will be four quarterbacks on the roster with him, Hackenberg, Geno Smith and 2015 fourth-round pick Bryce Petty.

“Three guys there, and they’re still speaking about getting Fitzpatrick,” Decker said. “There’s 53 spots on the team, and you’ve got to figure out how you can figure that going into the season. But it’s always a competition.”

The Jets have reportedly been low-balling Fitzpatrick during negotiations, though he obviously has not been blown away by offers from other teams. One former Jets player blasted Fitzpatrick this week over his contract situation. You can read those comments here.

It’s certainly understandable that guys like Decker and Brandon Marshall want Fitzpatrick to return. They developed great chemistry with him last season, and neither receiver is young enough to take part in a long-term rebuilding project.