Haener appears to be the early frontrunner to serve as the QB2 for the Saints this offseason, John Hendrix of Sports Illustrated reports.
Haener was suspended for the first six games of his 2023 campaign and has yet to make his NFL debut. However, the 6-foot-1 signal-caller should have a chance to establish himself as QB2 after New Orleans made several changes at the quarterback position this offseason. Last year's No. 2 QB Jameis Winston signed with the Colts in March. Meanwhile, the Saints signed veteran backup Nathan Peterman and fourth-year pro Kellen Mond this offseason before selecting Spencer Rattler in the fifth round of the 2024 NFL Draft. Carr is still clearly set as the starter, but the competition to be his primary reserve figures to be wide open this offseason. Haener's experience within the Saints' quarterback room should give him an immediate leg up on Peterman, Mond and Rattler. The 33-year-old Taysom Hill also is listed as a quarterback by the Saints, but he's better described as a multi-use player who regularly slots in at positions across the offense and special teams. It's highly unlikely that the team will carry more than three quarterbacks on the active roster during the 2024 campaign. Therefore, it will be worth monitoring how this competition shapes up during offseason workouts and training camp while projecting this QB depth chart.
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Saints' Jake Haener: Never plays as rookie
Rotowire
Haener did not appear in a game during his 2023 rookie season.
Haener was suspended for the first six games of the season and never appeared in any games as a rookie. The fourth-round pick likely never would have seen the field even if he was not suspended, as veteran Jameis Winston appeared firmly planted as the Saints' primary backup quarterback behind Derek Carr heading into the regular season. The starting signal-caller was knocked out of three games due to injuries this season, and Winston handled the remainder of quarterback reps in his absence. Haener will likely get an opportunity to compete with Winston for the No. 2 quarterback spot heading into the 2024 campaign.
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Saints' Jake Haener: Back from suspension
Rotowire
The Saints reinstated Haener from suspension Monday, John Hendrix of SI.com reports.
Haener will return to the Saints after completing his six-game suspension for violating the league's policy on performance-enhancing drugs. The rookie looks set to serve as a third- or fourth-string option at quarterback behind the likes of Derek Carr, Jameis Winston and Taysom Hill and will likely be a regular on the inactive list.
