Jake Haener – Syndication Server

Saints suggested as a good fit for Jets draft bust Zach Wilson

The New Orleans Saints were suggested as a good fit for New York Jets draft bust Zach Wilson. But they shouldn’t trade anything for him:

Where will Zach Wilson play football in 2024? The New York Jets draft bust has been given permission to look for a trade partner, but there haven’t been many takers. With other former first-round quarterbacks changing teams it feels like only a matter of time until Wilson ejects.

It just might be difficult for him to find a parachute first. Throwing 25 interceptions in 33 starts will do a lot to turn off suitors. Despite that, CBS Sports’ Cody Benjamin argues that the New Orleans Saints could be interested in Wilson’s services, writing:

There isn’t exactly a strong market for a former top-three pick whose erratic quarterbacking resulted in multiple demotions, but at just 24 with dual-threat traits, Wilson could be a low-risk reclamation project for a contender. The return would almost certainly not exceed that which the Bears or Patriots got for Justin Fields and Mac Jones, respectively. But one thing’s for sure: The Jets have had their fill, with the aging but superior Aaron Rodgers once again back in the saddle.

There are some coaches on staff Wilson knows well like John Benton, the former Jets offensive line coach, and Wilson wouldn’t face as much pressure competing with Jake Haener to back up Derek Carr. He’d be more competitive in that role than Nathan Peterman will be.

But is it worth trading anything for him? Probably not. If the vision is for Haener to knock down whatever punching bag the Saints set in front of him, it makes more sense to sign a player like Peterman on a non-guaranteed minimum salary than to invest draft capital in Wilson (even if it’s nothing more than a late-round pick). And there’s the possibility of Wilson being released outright. If that comes to pass, then it’s worth seeing if Wilson is willing to match Peterman’s modest salary.

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Saints could have traded for Justin Fields, if they had wanted to

The Saints had the draft picks to trade for Justin Fields, and they just hired his quarterbacks coach. It says a lot about their plans that he wasn’t considered:

It says a lot about the New Orleans Saints’ plans at quarterback that they never entered trade talks while the Chicago Bears were trying to find a new home for Justin Fields. The 25-year-old was dealt to the Pittsburgh Steelers in exchange for a conditional sixth-round pick in the 2025 draft; if he’s able to get on the field ahead of Russell Wilson and play well, it can turn into a fourth rounder.

The Saints could have beaten that offer. They own multiple picks in rounds five and six this year which is more lucrative than selections in 2025. They could’ve made a stronger offer than Pittsburgh did, had they chosen to.

And they had an inside scoop on Fields after hiring his quarterbacks coach Andrew Janocko. Janocko worked closely with Fields the last two years in Chicago and knew everything there was to know about the young quarterback. If the Saints liked what he had to say, they would’ve made a move. But they didn’t.

Which gets to our point: the Saints weren’t interested. As we’ve been saying, they want to support Derek Carr, not threaten his position on top of the depth chart with someone who might be better. They don’t want to have more ugly moments were fans were booing him off the field and cheering on Jameis Winston as happened last year. That’s why they signed a mediocre backup in Nathan Peterman, whose best-case scenario is getting blitzed by Jake Haener in training camp before hanging on with the practice squad, maybe.

Carr was a tough watch for much of the 2023 season. Still, Saints decision-makers like head coach Dennis Allen and general manager Mickey Loomis are confident he can deliver on the expectations that come with his $150 million contract. To his credit, Carr was much more impressive through the last six weeks when ex-offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael began tailoring the offense to his strengths with more play-action passes and pre-snap movement. Allen hired an entirely new offensive coaching staff this offseason, including Janocko, with the goal of putting Carr in a position to succeed.

Does that mean they were right to pass on Fields? No. Teams should keep adding quarterbacks until they know they have the right one, whether that means rolling the dice in free agency, taking a flyer on another team’s castoff, or drafting one themselves. Carr, who turns 33 in a few weeks, has probably hit his ceiling without ever winning a single playoff game. Allen, Loomis, and the Saints as an organization are determined to find out if he can lead the team to success in spite of that. They’re going with Carr, sink or swim, and that’s why they’re not in on an exciting young quarterback like Fields. It’s why fans shouldn’t expect them to draft another passer coming out of college, either.

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Saints lose assistant coach D.J. Williams to the Falcons

The Saints are losing assistant coach D.J. Williams to the Falcons. He was a big supporter of Jake Haener, having coached the QB at last year’s Senior Bowl:

Good luck out there D.J. Williams — you’ll need it on the Atlanta Falcons. Rod Walker first reported for the Times-Picayune | Advocate that Williams, the longtime New Orleans Saints offensive assistant coach, will be leaving to join the Falcons under head coach Raheem Morris. He’ll take over as as their new assistant quarterbacks coach after initially being offered a different role on staff in New Orleans.

A standout college quarterback himself at Grambling State, Williams worked closely with the passers and was someone Derek Carr spoke of highly last season. He had been with the Saints since the 2017 season. He also represented the Saints at the 2023 Senior Bowl coaching quarterbacks on the National Team roster; a group which included Jake Haener, who the Saints traded up to draft in the fourth round last offseason. With Williams leaving town, Haener is losing a big supporter.

So why let him go? Incoming offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak is expected to sign his contract and be formally introduced by the Saints after his San Francisco 49ers are finished competing in Super Bowl LVIII, and he must have someone else in mind for the job as an offensive assistant working with the quarterbacks. That’s the job his brother Klay has held with the 49ers but it’s unclear whether they would block a move to join the Saints as an assistant. We’ll get a better idea of who Kubiak wants on his staff after he’s officially hired next week.

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No surprises on New Orleans Saints inactive list for Week 17 vs. Bucs

There are no surprises on New Orleans Saints inactive list for Week 17’s game with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers:

There are no surprises on New Orleans Saints inactive list for Week 17’s game with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers: rookie draft picks Isaiah Foskey and Kendre Miller are unavailable due to injury, and backup quarterback Jake Haener is a healthy scratch again.

Right tackle Ryan Ramczyk, who was ruled out with an injury, has been put on injured reserve which will likely end his season (barring a big Saints playoff push). Veteran safety Lonnie Johnson Jr. was also ruled out due to injury. Running back Alvin Kamara and punter Lou Hedley, both questionable with illness, are officially active.

Here’s the full list of Saints inactives for Week 17:

DB Lonnie Johnson (injury)
RB Kendre Miller (injury)
DE Isaiah Foskey (injury)
QB Jake Haener
CB Cameron Dantzler
LB Monty Rice

And here’s the list of inactive Buccaneers:

CB Carlton Davis (injury)
OLB Shaq Barrett (injury)
TE Ko Kieft (injury)
LB J.J. Russell
DL Deadrin Senat
OL Brandon Walton
QB John Wolford (designated as QB3)

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Report: Saints tried, failed to poach Broncos practice squad quarterback

The Denver Gazette’s Chris Tomasson reports the Saints tried and failed to poach Broncos practice squad QB Ben DiNucci, who didn’t see a better situation in New Orleans:

The New Orleans Saints explored multiple options when Derek Carr went down with a shoulder injury back in Week 3, looking to reinforce the depth chart with a backup quarterback behind Jameis Winston. The Denver Gazette’s Chris Tomasson reports that the Saints tried and failed to poach quarterback Ben DiNucci from the Broncos practice squad in September.

But DiNucci didn’t see a better situation on the Saints’ 53-man roster than he already had in Denver. The Saints signed Jake Luton from the Carolina Panthers practice squad and rostered him for three weeks while Carr played through his injured throwing shoulder; when rookie quarterback Jake Haener returned from a six-week suspension to start the season, Luton was waived.

A former seventh-round pick by the Dallas Cowboys in the 2020 NFL draft, DiNucci played college football at Pittsburgh and James Madison before trying his hand with the XFL’s Seattle Sea Dragons in 2023, where he led the startup squad to a 7-3 record and playoff berth. The Broncos signed him after a success tryout at rookie minicamp in May.

DiNucci would have had the same fate without the promise of a spot on the Broncos practice squad once he was available again, so it’s easy to understand why he would rather stay in Denver than relocate to New Orleans. It doesn’t help that Sean Payton’s Broncos are surging towards a potential playoff berth (their 7-6 record has them in ninth place in the AFC playoff standings) while the Saints are the last-ranked 6-7 team in the NFC (in eleventh place). Even if DiNucci had hung around with the Saints, if nothing else the vibes in Denver seems to be in a much better place.

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Saints use NFL’s third quarterback loophole for the first time in 2023

The Saints are taking advantage of the NFL’s third quarterback loophole for the first time in 2023. Jake Haener is available to play in a pinch:

It’s taken longer than maybe expected, but the New Orleans Saints are taking advantage of the NFL’s third quarterback loophole for the first time in 2023. Jake Haener is available to play in a pinch. He was listed with the emergency quarterback designation for Sunday’s game with the Carolina Panthers.

But it’ll have to be an emergency. Haener will be wearing his uniform and have his helmet in case he’s needed, unlike the other inactive players this week, but he can only get into the game if both Derek Carr and Jameis Winston are unable to play due to injuries. Carr is returning from a concussion with an injured rib and banged-up throwing shoulder. He’s had to exit three games this year with injuries and in each case Winston has has gotten the nod to lead the huddle.

And, just in case you missed it, Haener switched from his No. 14 jersey to the No. 3 worn after the preseason once Wil Lutz was traded to the Denver Broncos. The rookie fourth-round draft pick out of Fresno State has not appeared in a game for the Saints this season; in preseason, he completed 38 of 72 passes for 395 yards with one touchdown and three interceptions, taking two sacks.

So why now? Taysom Hill is inactive after suffering injuries to his foot and non-throwing hand a week ago, which means the Saints are down to just three quarterbacks, not four — satisfying the letter of the rule. It’s unlikely Haener will hit the field on Sunday at the Caesars Superdome, but he’ll be ready if the Saints need to call his number.

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Dennis Allen shares injury update on Saints quarterback Derek Carr

Dennis Allen shared an injury update on Saints quarterback Derek Carr, saying Jameis Winston will start in Week 14 if Carr can’t play:

What’s the latest on Derek Carr? The New Orleans Saints quarterback was rocked on a big hit from his former teammate Bruce Irvin during Sunday’s loss to the Detroit Lions, exiting the game with what was described as back and shoulder injuries, plus a concussion.

Saints coach Dennis Allen updated Carr’s status on Monday after the training staff had time to fully evaluate him. Allen said that while Carr’s shoulder checked out (he had previously suffered an AC joint sprain this season), his back issue was really more of a rib injury, and Carr will be entering concussion protocol for the second time in less than a month.

“We’ll evaluate him as we go throughout the week to see what his availability will be,” for Sunday’s game with the Carolina Panthers, Allen said.

It sounds like a long shot for Carr to recover from these injuries in time for kickoff. He’s been knocked out of three different games this season and brain injuries can’t be overlooked, especially a series of them happening so close together like this. So if Carr can’t suit up, it’ll be Jameis Winston in the starting lineup, not Taysom Hill or Jake Haener.

Allen explained: “There’s a reason (Winston is) here as our backup and if Derek is not able to go, the plan right now would be Jameis would be in there and we’d put a plan together that gives him an opportunity to have success.”

Winston has gone 6-4 as the Saints’ starting quarterback across 10 games from 2021 to 2022, and he’s one of the better-qualified backups around the league. But his limitations on Sunday in relief of Carr were clear; he threw a dangerous pass that was tipped by the defense and saved by Chris Olave, and all three of his final pass attempts fell incomplete during the Saints’ last possession. As Allen said, they had their reasons for bringing him back as Carr’s backup, but there are reasons they went looking for a new starter, too. To this point Carr hasn’t proven he was the right choice.

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Derek Carr entered concussion protocol, dealing with back and shoulder injuries

Derek Carr was banged up on Sunday. The New Orleans Saints quarterback took a big hit from Detroit Lions linebacker Bruce Irvin that drew a foul, but the damage was done. After receiving assistant from the Saints medical staff, Carr left the field and didn’t return.

Afterwards head coach Dennis Allen confirmed what the team had previously announced: Carr entered concussion protocol and underwent evaluation for injuries to his shoulder and back. It’s the second time this season Carr has gone into league concussion protocol, and this is the third time he’s dealt with a shoulder injury. Allen declined to specify whether that’s the same AC joint sprain Carr suffered earlier this year and aggravated a few weeks ago.

Allen also said they wouldn’t consider shutting Carr down after this recurring shoulder injury, as was the case last season when Jameis Winston suffered damage to several vertebrae in his lower back. When pressed on the topic Allen only responded that it’s a different situation.

The Saints are playing at home the next two weeks against the Carolina Panthers and New York Giants, so they won’t have to ask Carr to fly cross-country with his injuries. But the question remains whether he’ll be able to return to the starting lineup in time for next Sunday’s game with Carolina. If he can’t go, Winston is likely getting the starting nod with Taysom Hill playing his usual role and Jake Haener backing him up, but we’ll have to wait and see for sure.

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Where the Saints are projected to pick in 2024 NFL draft after Week 12

Where the New Orleans Saints are projected to pick in 2024 NFL draft after Week 12:

If there’s a sliver lining to the New Orleans Saints falling out of first place in the NFC South, it’s that they’re lined up for a lucrative first-round pick in the 2024 NFL draft. And they need all the help they can get with an aging roster in need of reinforcements on both sides of the ball, to say nothing of an uncertain future at quarterback.

The experts at Tankathon currently project the Saints to pick at No. 12 overall after Week 12’s games. But we shouldn’t reduce their 2024 draft class down to just one selection. The Saints have a couple of picks coming back from other teams and they’re expected to receive some compensatory draft picks as well.

With that in mind, here are the updated Saints 2024 draft pick projections after Week 12:

Round 1, Pick 12
Round 2, Pick 49 (via Denver)
Round 5, Pick 147
Round 5, Pick 168 (compensatory)
Round 5, Pick 171 (compensatory)
Round 5, Pick 174 (compensatory)
Round 6, Pick 192
Round 6, Pick 209 (via Philadelphia)
Round 7, Pick 237 (via Denver)

The Broncos keep winning games, which means that second rounder coming back from Denver is getting less valuable by the week. And the Saints are shorthanded in the early rounds after trading their picks in rounds two (to the Philadelphia Eagles to get Trevor Penning), three (to the Denver Broncos with Sean Payton), and four (to the Jacksonville Jaguars to move up for for Jake Haener).

Knowing Mickey Loomis, expect many of those late-round picks to be packaged in more trades moving up earlier in the draft, assuming all of the compensatory picks are awarded as expected. Those will be confirmed in March along with the finalized draft order for all teams.

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Derek Carr still in concussion protocol after bye week, says Dennis Allen

Derek Carr is still in concussion protocol after the bye week, says New Orleans Saints head coach Dennis Allen:

Here’s something to monitor: New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr is still in concussion protocol coming out of the bye week, head coach Dennis Allen said Monday, Nov. 20. It remains to be seen whether Carr will clear protocol in time to suit up for their upcoming game with the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday, Nov. 26.

But it’s not too unusual for Carr to start the week of game prep while in the concussion protocol. Most players need a week or two to recover after these brain injuries. The Saints won’t practice as a team until Wednesday and he has time to heal up and receive the green light to play by Sunday’s game. At the same time, it’s possible he’ll have to miss more time. The player’s health takes priority here.

If Carr can’t go, Jameis Winston would likely get the starting nod with Taysom Hill and Jake Haener backing him up. Atlanta has already named Desmond Ridder their starting quarterback after benching him in favor of Taylor Heinicke for a few weeks. Stay tuned for updates on Carr’s status throughout the week.

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