Although Kellen Mond worked out for the 49ers this week, the former third-round pick will end up in a similar system. The Saints are signing the young quarterback, ESPN.com’s Katherine Terrell reports. The team has since announced the signing.
The Saints will be Mond’s fourth team in four seasons. The Vikings and Browns waived the young quarterback after one year apiece, and Mond spent last season on the Colts’ practice squad. Not back with Indianapolis on a futures deal, Mond hit free agency and will have a chance with a Saints team that hired Klint Kubiak as OC.
This will reunite Mond and Kubiak, who was in place as the Vikings’ play-caller when the team drafted the Texas A&M product three years ago. While Mond is considered to be running short on chances, his extensive familiarity with Kubiak’s system stands to help him in his quest to become one of the Saints’ backups behind Derek Carr.
Mond will join Nathan Peterman and 2023 draftee Jake Haener as Carr's backup options. While Mond and Peterman’s NFL resumes do not inspire much confidence in New Orleans’ backup situation, the Saints now have four QBs. That often represents the number of passers clubs take into offseason programs. Carr did not miss much time last season, but he suffered two concussions and a shoulder injury in his first Saints season. The team let Jameis Winston join the Browns in free agency and did not replace him with a veteran option.
After attempting to trade up for Justin Fields in 2021, the Vikings regrouped with Mond at No. 66 overall. Not viewed as ready in Minnesota, Mond did not receive the call to replace Kirk Cousins when the starter contracted COVID-19 that year. Off-and-on Vikings backup Sean Mannion did. When Kevin O’Connell arrived in 2022, Mond was not part of the new HC’s plan. Ex-Vikings OC Kevin Stefanski mentored Mond from 2022-23, but the Browns did not include him on their 53-man roster. The Colts added Mond to their P-squad following Anthony Richardson‘s injury but never promoted him to the active roster.
Mond, 24, started for most of his Aggies career. As a senior, he posted a 19-3 TD-INT ratio, completing a career-high 63.3% of his passes. While teams have not been thrilled by Mond’s development as a pro, Kubiak will take another crack at coaching the 6-foot-3 passer.
More must-reads: