Jake Haener lands with Giants after Saints stint, adding veteran depth at quarterback

The New York Giants have added veteran quarterback Jake Haener to their organization, according to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo as reported by Yahoo Sports. Haener, 27, is now attached to a franchise that has spent recent seasons building and refining its quarterback room, with each new addition aimed at strengthening depth and competition during the offseason and preseason.

Haener’s path to the NFL began at Washington, where he played collegiately before transferring to Fresno State. After his college career, he was selected in the 2023 NFL Draft, going 127th overall, a placement that positioned him as a developmental option with upside rather than a ready-made starter. That draft status matters when evaluating what teams typically expect from a quarterback in his first few NFL seasons, especially in terms of learning the playbook and earning reps.

Following his selection, Haener’s professional career began with the New Orleans Saints. The Yahoo Sports report frames him as a “former Saints quarterback,” tying him directly to that earlier stop. The move to New York indicates a fresh opportunity, one that could offer more chances for him to compete for roster work and prove he can contribute within a new system and coaching staff approach.

For the Giants, bringing in a quarterback with Haener’s background fits a common roster strategy: keep the quarterback position stable enough for the starter to function smoothly, while ensuring there is enough experienced quarterback play behind him. Even when a team is not necessarily expecting an unexpected starter, the presence of an experienced report-caller can improve practice quality, help evaluate fringe players, and reduce the drop-off in execution during the final weeks of camp.

Haener’s college résumé also helps contextualize his NFL profile. Having quarterbacked at two different programs, he has experience adapting to new environments and offensive structures. Teams value that trait because the NFL transition often requires quick adjustments, from terminology and protections to the rhythm of NFL timing in both the pass game and in critical situational football.

What happens next for Haener will likely be determined by how he performs in the Giants’ quarterback evaluations, including practice, preseason opportunities if the league calendar allows it, and how well he grasps the offensive details in New York’s system. If he can differentiate himself in timing, accuracy, and decision-making under pressure, he could force the Giants to think seriously about how they want to build the end of their depth chart. The signing itself is the immediate development, but the real story will be whether Haener can turn a new setting into meaningful roster value.