Jake Haener is the newest quarterback of the New Orleans Saints, and when you really dive into the situation, it almost makes too much sense.
Yes, he's a Fresno State guy, the same college as new Saints Derek Carr, who had already been serving as a mentor. But he's also worn No. 9 because, you guessed it, Drew Brees was his idol and the player he's modeled his entire game after.
"I always loved watching Drew Brees," Haener told WWL's Mike Detillier and Deuce McAllister, "and I used to wear his jersey and when people asked me, being from the Bay Area, who my team was, was it the Saints, was it the Raiders, was it the Niners, the Saints was always my answer and it’s just crazy being able to go through it now.”
Listen to WWL's full interview with Jake Haener in the player above. Can't see the embed? Click here.
And all that started when Haener was young, because he had a feeling elite height likely wasn't in the cards for him. His mom is 5-4. His dad is 5-10. He still wanted to be a quarterback, and there was one obvious player to model his game after -- who just so happened to start his career out in San Diego as about a year after Haener was born.
“I wanted to go look at somebody that emulated what I could be, and for me that was always Drew Brees," he said.
Haener even switched to No. 9 in college, though he understands he'll have to find a new one now.
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"I thought he was a great leader, did everything the right way," Haener said. "The way his teammates rose to the occasion because of his passion for the game was contagious. And obviously, being a super accurate rhythmic passer was someday something that I wanted to turn into."
And when the draft got started, the Saints were already on his mind as one of the three teams he'd taken top-30 visits to get to know. He'd also worked with Saints QBs coach Ronald Curry and offensive assistant DJ Williams, who were coaches at the Senior Bowl where he was ultimately named MVP.
Carr, whom Haener said he's known for several year, was quick to get on the phone to offer congratulations.
The other team Haener was watching was the Lions, whose head coach Dan Campbell is very familiar with the Saints. His goal was a third-round pick, and when he saw Detroit land Hendon Hooker, his attention was solely to the Saints at the start of Day 3. They traded up in the fourth round to select Old Dominion OL Nick Saldiveri, but he was next on their list as they executed up to No. 127 to pick Haener.
SAINTS 2023 DRAFT CLASS
- No. 29: Bryan Bresee, DT, Clemson
- No. 40: Isaiah Foskey, DE, Notre Dame
- NO. 71: Kendre Miller, RB, TCU
- No. 103: Ryan Saldiveri, OL, Old Dominion
- No. 127: Jake Haener, QB, Fresno State
- No. 146: Jordan Howden, S, Minnesota
- No. 195: A.T. Perry, WR, Wake Forest
"We had a lot of success here with a guy that probably didn't have all the physical traits of some of the other quarterbacks around the league," Saints head coach Dennis Allen said, "but was highly skilled at decision making, processing, getting the ball out on time, throwing the ball with accuracy, timing. And I think those are really traits of a quarterback that allow him to be successful."
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He was a 3-star recruit coming out of high school and is listed at 5-11 and 198 pounds.
That ability was clear to see throughout Haener's college career, taking the reins with Fresno State for his final 2.5 seasons. He completed 731 of 1,072 passes (68.2%), for 9,013 yards and 67 touchdowns against just 17 interceptions. His team went 10-3 in 2021 and got off to a difficult, 1-4 start in 2022 before winning its final nine games.
"He's a guy that will run around to create a little bit more time to throw it. But he's what I call a placement thrower," said WWL's Mike Detillier after the pick. "He throws it in a spot. He's got really good anticipation skills to make sure that that receiver is into and out of his cut and his break, and it's timing, pow. So like that pick."
Next up will be to learn the playbook, and before anything else, prove he can be a trusted backup by an NFL team. It's a question the Saints never got an adequate answer to about its last 4th round QB Ian Book, who was cut at the end of last year's training camp and claimed by the Eagles on waivers. Winston -- who agreed to return on a 1-year deal -- will enter as the odds-on favorite to back up Carr in 2023, but that'll still be an interesting competition to watch.
“I think it’s great to be able to have Jameis and Derek both in there. I just want to learn from them and be able to absorb as much information and progress every day. I don’t think it’s going to happen overnight," Haener said. "It’s a long process and I’m lucky to have two really good, veteran guys there to help me progress and help me to get to where I want to. Like I said, I’m gonna keep my mouth shut and I’m going to work hard and do everything I can to help the team win."
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