Consider me the undisputed conductor of the Taysom Hill to East Rutherford train. He still feels like the perfect offseason gamble for new head coach John Harbaugh. So when the notification popped up that the New York Giants signed a former Saints quarterback, my heart skipped a beat, thinking Harby actually pulled it off.
You could imagine my disappointment (no offense) when I realized New York hadn't acquired the ultimate Swiss Army knife. Instead, this was your standard backup quarterback signing in response to an absolute stinker of a 13-10 preseason-opening loss.
No one on the field looked worse than backup quarterback Brandon Allen on Saturday. The 10-year veteran, who signed earlier this offseason, was awful. Allen finished the game 5-of-8 for 45 yards and two interceptions. He had another pass get tipped that easily could have been his third. That alone was proof that the room needed an upgrade.
Which is why it came as no surprise that NFL insider Mike Garafolo reported on Monday that the G-Men are signing Jake Haener in what feels like a course-correcting move.
Brandon Allen’s preseason nightmare with Giants opened the door for Jake Haener
Haener has actually been on the radar for quite some time.
The team worked him out back in late July during one of their massive 18-player workouts. That session ended with Big Blue signing tight end Tyler Moore and defensive lineman Marlon Davidson, although only Davidson remains now.
Haener didn't leave with a contract that day, but clearly he remained on the short list of guys to call if the backup-to-the-backup plan fell apart.
The New Orleans Saints originally selected the Fresno State product in the fourth round of the 2023 NFL Draft. Haener appeared in eight games for New Orleans during the 2024 season (starting one), completing 18 of 39 passes for 226 yards, one touchdown, and one interception.
He spent the entire 2025 season on the Saints' practice squad before a brief stint with the Kansas City Chiefs earlier this offseason.
There's no official status change for Allen... yet, but he is practically a walking roster cut. The Giants clearly felt like they needed another option, and after Saturday, it’s hard to blame them. It’s just a shame they signed a regular quarterback instead of the electric, do-it-all maniac from New Orleans I was hoping for.
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