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Taysom Hill is a very fun player to watch in the NFL. He runs, he catches, he chips in heavily on special teams, and he’s even asked to throw occasionally. It makes plenty of sense that he’s already become such a fan-favorite among New Orleans Saints supporters.
None of that is enough to suggest Hill is the future of the quarterback situation in New Orleans. Here’s the reality: Hill turns 30 in August and has only gone 7-of-15 as a passer in 34 regular season games. His biggest gains have required difficult adjustments by his receivers because he lacks the touch to put the ball out in front of them, hitting them in stride. He’s a limited passer. The list of players who continue to improve and have lengthy careers with his resume is almost nonexistent.
Yes, Hill showed improvement in last year’s preseason. He reacted better to pressure and hung out in a collapsing pocket to let his receivers’ routes develop further downfield. But few of the opposing players he stood tall against are still in the NFL, having made up third- and fourth-string units around the league. So far, he’s shown nothing to justify hinging the future of the franchise on.
And the Saints know that. While Sean Payton may offer fun soundbites comparing Hill to an all-time great like Steve Young, he’s also been quick to acknowledge that Hill’s best contributions come on the ground as a runner, as a receiver in the red zone, or on special teams as a heady athlete who’s eager to embrace contact. If Payton and the Saints believed in Hill so strongly, they wouldn’t have made such a strong push to recruit Teddy Bridgewater during free agency last offseason. They should make similar efforts this spring.
So, no, fans should not be putting expectations on Hill to be the next guy to step up after Drew Brees moves on. That’s just not fair to him. Celebrate Hill for what he is — a tough, throwback football player who defies position titles. He’s an important part of the team and arguably one of their best pieces in the receiving corps. He’s a staple of the punt and kick units. He’s arguably their best short-yardage ball-carrier. But it’s far from certain that he’s the long-term answer at quarterback, and he shouldn’t be treated as such. Let him continue doing what he does best.
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