Analysis
4/17/23
8 min read
2023 NFL Draft: Will Fresno State's Jake Haener Be Next Brock Purdy?
Former NFL head coach and offensive guru Marc Trestman is evaluating the top quarterbacks in the 2023 NFL Draft. This is the seventh and final in a series of his evaluations.
Others in the Series:
The NFL Draft is less than two weeks away, and my pre-draft quarterback breakdowns wrap up with a look at three games of Fresno State quarterback Jake Haener (scouting report).
Fresno State has not had a quarterback drafted since Derek Carr was taken in the second round in 2014, but that drought will end this year when Haener hears his name called.
Jake Haener Evaluation
2022 Games Watched
- Boise State
- Oregon State
- USC
Haener's Credentials
After two years as a scout-team quarterback and backup at Washington, Haener transferred to Fresno State, where he became the starter in 2020 after sitting out the 2019 season due to transfer protocol.
Haener posted impressive statistics across three seasons as a starter, accruing 9,013 yards, 67 touchdowns and only 17 interceptions while completing 68 percent of his passes.
When Fresno State coach Kalen DeBoer left to assume the same position at the University of Washington after the 2021 season, Haener was rumored to follow DeBoer back to his former school. Ultimately Haener decided to stay and finish his career with coach Jeff Tedford in 2022.
Tedford, who also coached Aaron Rodgers at California, put Haener in an NFL-style, shotgun-based offense that included many NFL concepts, both inside and outside the pocket. Haener took advantage by throwing for 20 touchdowns and just three interceptions while going 10-2 in his 12 starts.
Haener missed two games in 2022 due to a broken ankle suffered against USC. He showed toughness by getting back on the field quickly and playing through pain at a high level to finish the season.
His 2022 performance earned him a Senior Bowl invitation, where he convincingly won the game's MVP.
Arm Talent, Accuracy
When watching Haener on tape, what jumps out is the confidence, poise and control he plays with.
Once he takes the snap, he is as fundamentally sound as any quarterback I've studied this year. The ball is consistently staged tight to the sternum, with the top tip at the "V" of the neck and the bottom tip of the ball never dropping below his numbers. He plays with a strong, wide base, is always in an athletic stance, and shows footwork that consistently matches the depths of the routes being executed.
He consistently exhibits a quick release, a fluid over-the-top throwing motion and finish, and the ability to alter his arm angles depending on the situation. While his release is not as quick as Bryce Young's (scouting report), Haener can get the ball out even faster than Young at times because of his high and compact staging of the ball.
Haener was consistently accurate to the short and intermediate areas of the field, showing he could change speeds and trajectory when necessary, with good location to maximize run after catch (RAC).
His sufficient NFL arm talent will not hold him back from successfully competing in the NFL, but there appears to be one hole in his game as a passer — his accuracy and placement on outside-lane deep throws such as go routes and fades. In my three-game evaluation, he did not put his receivers in a position to make plays on those throws, something NFL teams surely have vetted through watching all three years of his tape.
Despite this flaw, Haener consistently showed he could make tight throws in the seams, over the middle, and on deep-angle routes across the field.
Athleticism, Escapability
Haener does not have elite athletic talent on the level of some of the top quarterbacks in this draft class, but he is gifted with nifty and nimble feet, enabling him to escape the pocket to extend plays and find open receivers while on the move.
Within the pocket, Haener shows excellent awareness of pressure by naturally sliding to the quiet areas and finding throwing lanes. He has an inherent ability to avoid hits despite pressure. Against Oregon State, he was under constant duress yet continually avoided opposing pass-rush pressure, quickly moving to quiet areas of the pocket to distribute the ball.
He is fluid athletically and shows the core strength to throw from awkward positions. He possesses the playmaking ability to improvise and make things happen from the pocket when plays break down.
Once out of the pocket, Haener continues to operate as a passer first, directing traffic while keeping his eyes upfield. He's quicker than fast, but he can sufficiently extend the play, showing adequate play speed to run for first downs. While many of the other quarterbacks in this class take too many hits on the run, Haener looks at ease properly using a baseball slide to protect himself.
He's not a significant rushing threat or escape artist, but Haener has more than enough athleticism to buy time, create space and use his vision to sort through the chaos to find an open receiver.
Mental Processing
One of the most impressive parts of Haener's game is his mental acuity.
As a 24-year-old sixth-year senior, he is confident, deliberate and under control in the pocket. That is evident immediately after putting on the tape. While Fresno State's offense took its calls from the sideline, Haener was in control at the line of scrimmage and, presumably, could make protection calls and change plays pre-snap.
He is an excellent decision-maker who consistently has his eyes up and makes the correct reads. He makes mindful decisions, eliminates unforced errors, and clearly understands the importance of protecting the football while executing and finishing full-field progressions. There was one instance against USC where he forced a pass into the end zone, but that was an outlier.
Haener can find his hot receiver while under pressure and deliver with fundamentally sound footwork and poise. When his hot receiver wasn't there, or when a play broke down, and no receiver was available, he did not hesitate to throw the ball away and live for another down.
Haener showed excellent flashes of anticipatory throws and spatial awareness against zone coverage over the middle, with highly precise completions that tied his mental ability and arm talent together. This quality is impressive and at the same level as some quarterbacks predicted to be drafted much higher.
Final Thoughts
It can be argued Haener lacks size at 6 feet and 207 pounds, and he merely has sufficient arm strength, but he has so much ability and natural talent for NFL coaches to work with. Haener has the mental and physical tools to play quarterback in the NFL.
What put a stamp on my evaluation was the "it" factor he showed on the last four plays of the Oregon State game. With 1:50 left in the fourth quarter and Oregon State leading 29-26, Haener moved his team 80 yards for the winning score. All four pass plays were beautifully executed, and that series solidified my confidence in Haener checking all the boxes to execute and win at the NFL level despite his lack of explosive arm talent and size.
Haener is a mature prospect who will only have a slight adjustment from a mental or fundamental standpoint when he enters the NFL. The tape convincingly validates he is the type of player coaches and teammates will trust to execute the playbook.
There are some striking similarities between Haener and Drew Brees beyond their shared No. 9 jersey number. These include Haener's size and demeanor in the pocket with his fundamentals and throwing motion. Brees was drafted in 2001 as a projected backup until he got his opportunity, and this is how Haener will be projected.
Every quarterback is different, on his own journey, and should not compare himself to others, but when Haener gets his opportunity to play, watch out. It's 15 years too early to anoint him, but we could find ourselves with another Brees or 2022 Brock Purdy.
While Haener's game is somewhat predicated on being a master of the fundamentals and mental aspect of the game, he's also fun to watch because of his subtle playmaking ability, great ball placement and nimble feet. I believe there are quarterback coaches around the NFL thinking the same thing.
Marc Trestman is a former NFL, CFL and college coach. After over a decade as an offensive coordinator and quarterback coach in the NFL, he coached in four Grey Cups in the CFL, winning three over seven years with Montreal and Toronto before becoming head coach of the Chicago Bears. Follow him on Twitter at @CoachTrestman.
