The Fresno State product’s developmental stint alongside Patrick Mahomes ends abruptly as Kansas City’s crowded quarterback room forces a tough roster move for the former Saints draft pick.
On Monday, Ross Jackson shared a tweet on X.com from the Kansas City Chiefs that stated they waived former New Orleans Saints fourth-round pick Jake Haener. For Haener, it’s a stinging conclusion to a short-lived dream of developing in the shadow of Patrick Mahomes. But for those watching the league’s brutal roster math, the writing has been on the wall for weeks.
The Numbers Game in KC
When Haener signed a reserve/futures contract with the Chiefs in February, the move felt like a savvy "low-risk, high-reward" flyer for Andy Reid. With Patrick Mahomes recovering from a significant ACL/MCL injury sustained late last year, the Chiefs needed arms. Haener, a gritty Fresno State product with a reputation for high football IQ, seemed like the perfect developmental project.
However, the landscape in Kansas City shifted faster than a Mahomes scramble. Since Haener signed:
- The Chiefs traded for Justin Fields, instantly securing a high-upside backup who can lead the offense if Mahomes isn't ready for Week 1.
- The team used a 2026 seventh-round pick on LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier, a prospect the coaching staff is reportedly eager to mold.
With Fields locked in as the primary insurance policy and Nussmeier representing the fresh "draft-and-develop" investment, Haener became the odd man out in a crowded room that also includes veteran Chris Oladokun.
Lessons from the New Orleans Depth Chart
This isn't the first time Haener has been squeezed by a youth movement. Just last year in New Orleans, Haener found himself caught in the crossfire of a shifting regime.
The emergence of Spencer Rattler and 2025 second-round pick Tyler Shough effectively ended Haener's path in the Big Easy. In New Orleans, he was the "safe" developmental pick from the previous era. With Rattler and Shough, the Saints saw higher ceilings and bigger arms. Haener’s inability to leapfrog those names on the depth chart forced him to the practice squad and eventually to free agency.
What’s Next for Haener?
Is this the end of the road? Not likely. Haener showed flashes of competency during his eight appearances for the Saints in 2024, including a gritty performance in his lone career start.
Haener remains a "high-floor" backup candidate. He is the type of quarterback coaches love in a meeting room, but in a league increasingly obsessed with elite physical traits (the Fields and Shoughs of the world), "smart and steady" sometimes isn't enough to hold a roster spot.
As he heads to the waiver wire, Haener will be looking for a team that isn't currently undergoing a quarterback identity crisis. He needs stability. He needs a place where he can settle in as a true QB3 and wait for a break. For now, the "Mahomes University" dream is over, serving as a reminder that in the NFL, your spot is only as secure as the team's next transaction.