The New Orleans Saints have a new face in the quarterback room in the form of Kellen Mond, who has a pretty clear selling point as he competes for a job.
Mond, signed on Friday, was a third-round pick of the Vikings in 2021 when new Saints OC Klint Kubiak was with Minnesota. As the Saints look to install a new offense, Mond will have a bit of a headstart to not only help his teammates, but also to show he's capable. Mond joined WWL Radio recently to break down that subject and more.
“Obviously nothing is ever promised, especially in this league," Mond said. "I’m just thankful to get an opportunity to be able to compete for a backup job and, you know, that’s something that’s really all you want to be able to put yourself in to a position to play and be ready to play."
Listen to the full, exclusive interview in the player above. Can't see the embed? Click here.
The addition makes for an intriguing question at the backup QB spot behind starter Derek Carr. Could Mond use his familiarity in the scheme to beat out Jake Haener? The QB selected by the Saints in the 4th round of 2023 finds himself in a similar situation as Mond heading into 2022. Despite his draft stock, the Vikings moved on from head coach Mike Zimmer and Kubiak was let go. The new staff, led by Kevin O'Connell, joined the Browns in 2022, then the Colts in 2023 before landing in New Orleans.
The Saints didn't execute a full rebuild, but they did rebuild the offense that Haener was picked to develop in. He'll have to earn that spot in training camp, and at this point Mond likely represents the stiffest competition. Veteran Nathan Peterman will also factor in to the equation. One way or another, it's the type of QB2 battle the Saints haven't really seen in quite some time, having established backups in Teddy Bridgewater and Jameis Winston each year since 2020.
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MORE FROM KELLEN MOND
Thoughts on Kubiak at OC
"Klint is honestly great, and someone who has been really experienced and he’s coached under his dad and the Gary Kubiak tree with Shanahan and those guys, and he’s pretty much been all around, so I think he’s just phenomenal, being able to attack coverages, give quarterbacks clean reads and pretty much find ways to get, you know, Kamara, Shaheed and Olave and these guys the ball in their hands with space and he did a great job my rookie year getting [Adam] Thielen and Justin Jefferson the ball, so I could see some type of resemblance of being able to find creative ways to get some of these weapons the ball.”
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Memories of 7OT game vs LSU back in 2018
“Yea, I mean, arguably the greatest game in college football history, and obviously me, Joe Burrow, Justin Jefferson and Ja’Marr [Chase], ... Erik McCoy was in that game as well, so yea, it was a phenomenal game. It was really an average game the first three quarters and then the fourth quarter just kind of turned up and then just pretty much madness for 7 overtimes. So it’s rare you’re going to be able to resemble a game like that.”
Note: Saints TE Foster Moreau was also active for LSU in that game and caught a 4th quarter touchdown. Mond threw for six TDs in the 74-72 Texas A&M win.
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Thoughts on Saints playmakers
“Besides Tyreek Hill and Waddle, probably the [Saints have the] next group of fastest guys on the field, just me playing against them when I was in Cleveland and when I was in Indy last year, so I’ve seen both of those guys up front in person, just as talented as some of the best guys in the league. So I think Klint is gonna do a great job and, you know, Keith is going to do it with the receivers, so I’m definitely looking forward to it.”