Jake Haener NFL Draft Overview
Position: Quarterback
Height: 6’1’’
Weight: 195 pounds
School: Fresno State
2023 NFL Draft: Jake Haener Scouting Report
After a stellar high school career in California, Jake Haener committed to play quarterback at the University of Washington. Following a redshirt campaign in 2017, Haener played in three games in 2018 as the backup. Haener then transferred to Fresno State, where he sat out the 2019 season before becoming the team’s starter in 2020.
In the COVID-shortened 2020 season, Haener completed 65% of his passes for 2,021 yards, 14 touchdowns, and five interceptions in six starts. However, Haener took a massive leap the next year, as he threw for 4,096 yards for 33 touchdowns and nine interceptions while completing 67% of his passes in 13 starts.
After suffering an ankle injury in Week 3, Haener returned several weeks later and led the Bulldogs to 7-0 record to close out the campaign, culminating in a 29-6 victory over Washington State in the LA Bowl. Overall, Haener completed 72% of his passes for 2,896 yards, 20 touchdowns, and three interceptions in 10 games played. Following the season, Haener was invited to participate in the Senior Bowl, where he won MVP for his performance throughout the week of practice and in the game itself.
Strengths
- Good accuracy and ball placement at all three levels of the field;
- High-level anticipation and a quick release to match;
- Good arm strength;
- Throws with good zip on his passes;
- Can extend plays and create off-schedule – very instinctive player;
- High Football IQ – ran more of an NFL-style offense with Jeff Tedford, shouldered more pre-snap responsibilities with reading coverages and changing protections.
Weaknesses
- Undersized at 6’1 and less than 200 pounds;
- Slight frame makes him more susceptible to injury;
- Limited as an athlete – not a threat as a runner;
- Arm strength good, but not elite – inconsistent with throwing the deep ball;
- Older prospect – will be 24 years old by the 2023 NFL Draft.
NFL Comparison: Taylor Heinicke
Best Fits for Jake Haener: Denver Broncos, Las Vegas Raiders, Minnesota Vikings, Los Angeles Rams, Seattle Seahawks.
Projection: 3rd-4th Round
Bottom Line on Jake Haener
While he lacks the high-end physical traits of a top quarterback prospect, Jake Haener displays excellent accuracy, anticipation, football intelligence, and competitiveness. As such, Haener has all the necessary tools to develop into an elite backup that can be effective when pressed into starting duty.
However, the biggest knocks on Haener are his lack of size and his limitations as an athlete. It would thus be hard to envision Haener developing into a high-end, long-term starter in the NFL. Yet, Haener has demonstrated that, unlike many quarterback prospects, he has the ability to process coverages and read defenses at an outstanding level. Moreover, he has consistently displayed the accuracy, velocity and ball placement to make all the necessary throws of an NFL quarterback.
Although it is highly unlikely Haener will be selected in the first round, there is a strong chance that he will be selected sometime on Day 2 of the 2023 NFL Draft. With his natural skills as a passer in addition to his toughness and leadership abilities, Haener has all the makings of a quarterback that could stick in the league for a long time. While Haener’s role would ideally come as a backup, he has the qualities to step in and make winning plays at the next level.
Main Photo: Vasha Hunt – USA Today Sports
