NEW YORK -- Joe Namath, the Jets' legendary quarterback, has high hopes for their rookie quarterback, Christian Hackenberg.

And so does the team's star wide receiver, Brandon Marshall, who likes that the Jets drafted Hackenberg in Round 2.

"I think that it's a smart move," Marshall told NJ Advance Media. "Whenever you can get better and create competition, it makes the whole team better. You've also got to understand that some of us are getting older, so we need these young guys to hand the torch off to, and someone that will be able to carry it. I think that this kid is really good. He's smart. And he's going to be a great pro."

Marshall is 32. The Jets' starting quarterback last season, free agent Ryan Fitzpatrick, is 33. So he's not the Jets' quarterback of the future, even if he re-signs with the team. But maybe Hackenberg will be. We'll see.

Marshall will get a chance to practice with Hackenberg later this month when the Jets begin organized team activities.

Marshall spoke Tuesday evening in Manhattan before being honored with the Champion Award at the Child Mind Institute's Change Maker Awards banquet.

The awards recognize people and organizations who create meaningful change for children struggling with mental health and learning disorders. The Child Mind Institute is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping children and families who struggle with mental health and learning disorders.

Marshall, diagnosed five years ago with borderline personality disorder, leads a foundation, Project 375, that raises awareness and funding for mental health issues. He recently testified before a U.S. Senate committee about those issues.

Marshall said the youth-oriented aspect of the Child Mind Institute's work resonates with him.

"Whenever you have the opportunity to do preventative work and intervene earlier, to give not only our kids, but our world a better chance," he said. "This thing [mental health issues] presents itself in so many different ways, and it hits both ends of the [age] spectrum. When it came down to it, we really believed that the children were the answer."

Darryl Slater may be reached at dslater@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @DarrylSlater. Find NJ.com Jets on Facebook.