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The Detroit Lions jumped the free agency market at tight end by signing Josh Hill on Sunday. Hill was released by the New Orleans Saints recently as part of that team’s salary cap misery, and the Lions pounced.
It makes sense. New Lions head coach Dan Campbell comes from New Orleans and was Hill’s position coach for the last several years. The 30-year-old Hill plays a lot like Campbell did during his career, a hard-nosed blocking tight end with just enough receiving ability to keep defenses honest.
I asked John Sigler of Saints Wire to provide his thoughts on Hill and a basic scouting report. Sigler delivered the goods. Here’s what he had to say about Hill,
Josh Hill was an underrated pillar of the offense. He wasn’t a featured receiving threat like Alvin Kamara or Michael Thomas (or Jimmy Graham or Jared Cook or Ben Watson or Coby Fleener, among the other tight ends he’s worked with) but he was a very effective blocker who could handle many different responsibilities in different personnel packages. He’s been a big part of their success on screens and off-tackle run plays over the years; look at any red zone sequence that ends in a Kamara touchdown run and you’ll see Hill blocking like his life depends on it.
He’s been one of Sean Payton’s favorite players for so long that his release was a shock to many Saints fans; a couple of years ago when the Bears tried to sign him as a restricted free agent, the Saints matched the offer sheet and included a no-trade clause. How many blocking tight ends can say that?
So don’t look for him to be a big threat in the passing game. I expect that to continue to be T.J. Hockenson’s role. Instead watch out for designed touches to D’Andre Swift, and for Hill to be paving the way for him. Dan Campbell knows exactly how useful a player Hill is and it’s no accident that Hill is the first Saints cap cut to land with a new team.
Hill did have a bigger role for the Saints offense in the red zone, and that’s an area where he can help the Lions. Of his 116 career receptions, 15 have been for touchdowns. Of the last seven of those TDs, none has been longer than nine yards.
Hill represents an instant upgrade in the blocking department over Jesse James, who was dumped earlier in the week. His ability to also contribute on special teams adds value. He’s a quality No. 2 TE who fits in with the culture Campbell is trying to build in Detroit.
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