Sean Payton suggests Saints could sign Taysom Hill to a long-term extension

The New Orleans Saints are set to begin contract negotiations with franchise quarterback Drew Brees, who announced he intends to play in 2020 after taking a month away from football to mull over his future. That creates serious implications for backup passers Teddy Bridgewater (who won’t lack for suitors on the open market) and Taysom Hill, whose upside on special teams and pass-catching ability could draw offers as a restricted free agent. The Saints have their work cut out for them in trying to keep their quarterbacks room intact, and it’s clearly on Sean Payton’s mind.

Payton appeared on WWL Radio with Bobby Hebert and Kristian Garic earlier this week, with the Saints head coach discussing a range of topics including Hill’s complicated free agency. The best bet for the 29-year-old to return in 2020 would be on a restricted free agent tender, but Payton acknowledged that there’s other ways for the Saints to retain him.

“Well, there are two [ways] to go about it,” Payton said. “Number one, we can sign him to a deal before the league year starts and you never get to that point [of applying a tender]. I think if he was unsigned prior to the league year, I’d anticipate us really paying close attention to that and looking at that first round tender.”

As Payton noted, there are multiple tenders available. We’ve broken them down in greater detail before, but the gist of it is that the highest-level tender would guarantee the Saints a first-round pick in compensation should Hill leave for another team. And it’s probably more likely that the Saints will tender Hill than sign him to a long-term contract extension, but Payton still added that an agreement might be worked out.

Payton continued, “Now I think it will take some time relative to his contract because it’s unique, A, in what he’s doing now and [B] what we feel like he can be and what he can do when Drew does retire, so that will probably take a little bit more work than the contract that Mickey does with Drew.”

It might be difficult for the Saints to agree with Hill’s agent on exact contract figures. Hill is adamant that he’s a franchise quarterback, and Payton has agreed with that take in media appearances, but his actions tell a different story. 54% of Hill’s snaps last season came on special teams. As much as Payton may talk up Hill’s comparisons to Steve Young, Young was never asked to sprint downfield in punt coverage or line up in a three-point stance and block with his throwing shoulder. Hill’s unique usage is definitely going to factor into contract talks, meaning a restricted free agent tender is the likely path forward.