5 quarterbacks Seahawks should wait to take in the 2023 NFL draft
By Lee Vowell
Jake Haener, Fresno State
Haener has a ridiculous arm. His only issue is maybe he isn’t the greatest decision-maker. After playing well for Fresno State in 2021, he entered the transfer portal and then decided against it and came back. This after he played at Washington his freshman year and then transferred.
That kind of wishy-washiness is going to hurt him with an NFL team who knows their quarterback is bought-in. Sound familiar, 12s? It should. Some teammates thought Russell Wilson tuned out last year.
But that arm of Haener’s. That great and magnificent arm with its quick release and accuracy. He wasn’t perfect last year as he hurt his hip and that affected his play but it also says a lot that he gutted out playing the rest of the season when maybe he shouldn’t have. But that also shows that he can play through pain, a must in the NFL.
.@FresnoStateFB's Jake Haener (@jakehaener10) was outstanding Saturday vs UConn.
— Eric Galko (@EricGalko) August 30, 2021
Throw below is a designed roll out, and Haener gets depth, shows great mechanics/footwork as he works to his left, and drives the ball on a deep out. Perfect placement, one of many he had Saturday. https://t.co/XWPgxZxjSq pic.twitter.com/8UfevjJZWi
Haener also doesn’t turn the ball over very much. In 735 pass attempts at Fresno State, Haener has thrown just 15 picks, or 2 percent of his throws have been picks. In 2021, that number dipped to 1.8 percent. And really except for two games, when Haener threw 4 picks against Hawaii and 3 against Boise State, he threw just 2 interceptions in 402 passes.
Haener can throw with accuracy from multiple arm angles as well so if he is forced to move around in the pocket, he is still good. Haener could easily move into the early part of the first round with a great 2022 performance but Seattle will likely have at least one top-ten pick next year.