New Orleans Saints Executive Vice President/General Manager Mickey Loomis announced today that the club has signed quarterback Jake Haener to the active roster. In addition, the club has signed both linebacker Eku Leota and wide receiver Tommy Mellott to the practice squad.
Haener, 6-1, 200, is in his third season with New Orleans after being drafted by the Saints in the fourth round (127th overall) of the 2023 NFL Draft out of Fresno State. In 2024, the Danville, Calif. native saw his first game action, appearing in eight games with one start and completing 18-of-39 passes for 226 yards and one touchdown.
Leota, 6-4, 257, joins the Saints after originally signing with Carolina as an undrafted free agent following the 2023 NFL Draft out of Auburn. In two seasons with the Panthers (2023-24) and the Pittsburgh Steelers (2024), Leota has played in 11 games with one start, recording eight tackles (seven solo), one sack, three stops for a loss, and one coverage stop. In five collegiate seasons with Northwestern (2018-21) and Auburn (2021-22), the Asheville, N.C. native played in 38 games with nine starts, finishing his college career with 66 tackles (45 solo), 15.5 sacks, 25 stops for a loss, one pass breakup, and three forced fumbles.
Mellott, 6-0, 208, joins the Saints after originally being selected by the Las Vegas Raiders in the sixth round (213th overall) of the 2025 NFL Draft out of Montana State. In four seasons as a quarterback with the Bobcats, Mellott played in 39 games, completing 353-of-551 passes for 4,745 yards (64.1 pct.) with 39 touchdowns and six interceptions. The Butte, Mont. native also rushed 419 times for 2,847 yards (6.8 avg.) with 38 touchdowns and caught three passes for 20 yards with one receiving touchdown. Mellott was named the Stats Perform Walter Payton FCS Offensive Player of the Year, Montana State's first ever Walter Payton Award winner, along with being named Walter Camp FCS Player of the Year, FCS ADA Offensive Player of the Year, a unanimous first team All-American and Big Sky Offensive MVP.
