neptuxe Fresno State quarterback Jake Hener was picked by the New Orleans Saints in the fourth round because the Saints believed in the rookie’s potential. neptuxe

New Orleans Saints assistant general manager Jeff Ireland reveals to The Times-Picayoon’s Jeff Duncan On Tuesday, the addition of Fresno State quarterback Jake Hener from the fourth-round draft will help elevate the Saints’ quarterback room. ( neptuxe )

The Saints have agreed to a four-year, $150 million contract with former Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr this offseason, bringing back Jamis Winston as their replacement. Sign a back-up contract Before the Saints pick another fourth-round pick, Hener, to learn and grow with Carr.

‘So we threw away a lot of these things, like the idea of ​​having a young quarterback learn a new system with Derek and Jamice,’ Ireland said of picking Henor. Smart business moves in our opinion. We feel that it is a smart move to bring in young players to develop. We just want to see him develop into a system that we feel is going to be successful. Learn from the two men who did this and fight as the real ones in this league. We felt that was a smart business.’

The Saints traded up to pick Hener, No. 127, the sixth quarterback picked in the 2023 draft. Standing 6 feet tall, the former quarterback from Fresno. The State didn’t have a huge body and powerful arms. But the Saints still appreciate his on-field abilities.

‘You wouldn’t think he was six feet tall when you looked at him,’ said Ireland. He has a great vision. He’s got a fast pace, he’s very smart, he’s a 6th year senior, so he’s old enough to be a senior at university. He competed in two different events. He competed in Washington, competed at Fresno State.’

‘And I’m very impressed with these people. his way of playing He made several fourth-quarter comebacks. He reminds you or is similar to the No. 9 draft (Drew Brees). He’s small, the way he’s creative and processed. quick ball release and accuracy’

Ireland also opted to compare Henor to Bryce Young, this year’s No.1 draft quarterback for the Carolina Panthers, who is similar in stature.

‘I mean there will always be only one of those guys,’ Ireland said of Bryce. ‘You really can’t compare him. And I’m always careful to use comparisons. Because he’s not compared to Drew, he’s the one and only.’

‘But there’s something similar that makes you feel, OK, he could play like that guy and you think, OK, you’ve got another little quarterback in the league, you’ve got Bryce. Young, he was just selected as the first draft pick. What if Jake was on that offensive team (at Alabama)? I’m just assuming that Jake would be successful if he were in Alabama.’