Tag: Josh Hill

Lions sign TE Darren Fells after Josh Hill retires

Fells played for the Lions in 2017 and thrived with the Texans the last two seasons

The Detroit Lions have signed veteran tight end Darren Fells after holding a free agent visit with the former Lion.

Fells returns to Detroit, where he played in the 2017 season. The move took on some urgency when projected No. 2 tight end Josh Hill unexpectedly revealed he was retiring this week.

The 35-year-old Fells played well in his one season in Detroit, primarily serving as an in-line blocking tight end. A former college basketball player, Fells emerged as a great red zone threat as well in the last two seasons with the Houston Texans. He caught 11 touchdown passes in 2019-2020 for Houston.

Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press was the first to break the news of Fells’ signing with the Lions.

[vertical-gallery id=61492]

Lions TE Josh Hill is expected to retire

Hill’s retirement means T.J. Hockenson is the only TE currently on the roster who has ever been active for an NFL game

Earlier in the day, news came out that the Lions were hosting free agent tight end Darren Fells on a visit. Now the reason for such a potential move makes more sense.

Per Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press, Lions No. 2 tight end Josh Hill is planning to retire. Hill signed with the Lions earlier this offseason as a free agent after a long career with the New Orleans Saints. He came with head coach Dan Campbell to Detroit and was expected to fill the role of blocking tight end previously held by Jesse James, who was quickly cut after the season.

The Lions have now lost the projected No. 2 and No. 3 tight ends behind starter T.J. Hockenson. With Hill’s expected retirement and the recent release of Hunter Bryant, Hockenson is the only tight end on the roster who has ever been active for an NFL game.

[lawrence-related id=61166]

Report: Longtime Saints tight end Josh Hill retiring after signing with Lions

Longtime Saints tight end Josh Hill followed his position coach Dan Campbell to the Lions, but chose to retire before the 2021 season.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbyahgz6p2j3xp7 player_id=none image=https://saintswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]

Former New Orleans Saints tight end Josh Hill has chosen to retire after signing a free agent contract with the Detroit Lions earlier this offseason, per Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. Hill was a favorite of Saints head coach Sean Payton and a valued player that first-year Lions head coach Dan Campbell was excited to bring with him to Detroit.

The Lions visited with a familiar face on Tuesday in free agent tight end Darren Fells, who started 13 games for the Lions in 2017. They still have promising pass-catching tight end T.J. Hockenson on top of the depth chart, but Hill would have been a stabilizing presence in Campbell’s new locker room.

Hill has racked up injuries in recent years, including a hand issue in 2020 that knocked him out of two games and a 2019 concussion, but he’s still exiting the game on his own terms. He still finished his Saints career with 117 regular season games under his belt — ranking fourth-most on the 2020 Saints team behind Drew Brees, Thomas Morstead, and Cameron Jordan.

I’m only speculating here, but it would make a lot of sense for him to return to New Orleans and work as an assistant coach with the tight ends; the Saints shuffled duties around a bit this year, with Dan Roushar moving back to the role of tight ends coach after working with the offensive line in recent years. They’ve brought in former players like Zach Strief and Aaron Glenn onto the coaching staff before, so you have to think the offer is there if he’s interested.

[listicle id=45158]

Resetting the Lions depth chart after the first two weeks of free agency

Updating the Detroit Lions depth chart after the first two weeks of free agency

The list of players who have come into Detroit and left the Lions for other teams over the first two weeks of free agency is a lengthy one. That makes it a good time to reset the depth chart for the current Lions roster.

This is an early projection based on who is on the roster as of March 30th. Obviously there are more players coming to Detroit, be it as a free agent or in the team’s 2021 NFL draft class. But for now, this is the Lions up-to-date depth chart.

Saints to sign TE Nick Vannett, recent Broncos salary cap cut

The New Orleans Saints expect to sign former Denver Broncos tight end Nick Vannett, a tough salary cap casualty in 2021.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbyahgz6p2j3xp7 player_id=none image=https://saintswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]

Finally, some movement. The New Orleans Saints are bringing in another free agent, with NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reporting that the team is signing Denver Broncos tight end Nick Vannett to a three-year contract, which was confirmed by NewOrleans.Football’s Nick Underhill. How many of those years are “ghost years” to help with salary cap accounting is undetermined, but that’s been the Saints’ calling card lately.

Vannett himself was a tough salary cap cut by Denver recently. He was the Broncos’ go-to blocking tight end while his athletic teammate Noah Fant handled responsibilities through the air, and Vannett figures to continue playing that role in New Orleans following the release of Josh Hill earlier this offseason. He could form a solid tandem with second-year pro Adam Trautman, who should step up into Jared Cook’s spot as a pass catcher.

Additionally, this pickup will not factor into the 2022 compensatory draft picks formula. Because the Broncos terminated their contract with Vannett, his signing will not cancel out the loss of any Saints free agents who the team expects to recoup future draft picks for, like Trey Hendrickson and Sheldon Rankins. From that perspective, it’s a savvy move.

[vertical-gallery id=44025]

Josh Hill’s son wanted him to sign ‘somewhere where there’s snow’

Josh Hill’s son wanted him to sign ‘somewhere where there’s snow’

New Lions tight end Josh Hill offered up a light moment during his introductory press conference on Tuesday. The longtime New Orleans Saints player talked about what it was like to be released after spending eight seasons in New Orleans.

Hill talked about the impact the move would have on his family, which includes four kids under the age of nine. His oldest son took an interesting turn.

“He wanted to go somewhere where it snows,” Hill said with a smile. After growing up in New Orleans, they’re ready for a different climate.

Hill is originally from Idaho and related that he and the family do get out there on occasion, but moving to Detroit will offer his kids a lot of chances to play in the snow. Just hopefully no more this winter…

Josh Hill: What the Lions are getting in their new TE

With insight from our friends at Saints Wire

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbx8sj47vkwrznr player_id=none image=https://lionswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]

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.

[lawrence-related id=59735]

Lions announce free agent contract with former Saints TE Josh Hill

The Detroit Lions announced a free agent contract with former New Orleans Saints tight end Josh Hill, who is familiar to Dan Campbell.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbyahgz6p2j3xp7 player_id=none image=https://saintswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]

Well this is tough. The New Orleans Saints were forced to terminate their contract with tight end Josh Hill last week during the NFL’s salary cap crunch, and he quickly landed on his feet with the Detroit Lions — and his former position coach Dan Campbell, now the Lions head coach. Terms of the contract were not immediately available.

While Hill was never a featured receiver in the New Orleans offense, his skills as a blocker in a variety of assignments made him one of Sean Payton’s favorite players. Campbell saw how important he was firsthand; at one point when Hill was injured and knocked out of a game, Payton described the loss as trying to build a house without its front door.

Hill is expected to replace Jesse James in Detroit, who was recently released, as the No. 2 tight end behind pass-catching standout T.J. Hockenson. He brings 117 regular season games’ worth of experience with him and should be a big help to the rebuilding Lions offense. Because the Saints cut Hill before he signed with Detroit, New Orleans will not qualify for a compensatory draft pick.

In the meantime, the Saints will be looking to surround second-year pro Adam Trautman. The only other tight ends on their roster are Garrett Griffin and Ethan Wolf, both returning from last year’s practice squad. Expect more moves for New Orleans very soon, and for more of their cap casualties to catch on with other teams.

[vertical-gallery id=43713]

Lions sign free agent TE Josh Hill

Hill spent his first 8 seasons with the Saints

The Detroit Lions announced on Saturday they have signed free agent tight end Josh Hill.

Hill comes to the Lions from the New Orleans Saints, where he spent the last eight seasons. The Saints released Hill earlier this offseason to save cap room, which made Hill available to sign before the NFL’s free agency period officially kicks off on March 17th.

Primarily an in-line tight end, Hill started 61 of his 117 career games. He was used as a blocker and in motion in the Saints offense but does have some receiving ability; Hill caught between 14 and 25 passes six seasons in a row and has 15 career TD catches in 116 receptions.

Hill projects to instantly replace Jesse James as the No. 2 tight end in Detroit. The Lions released James this week in a cost-cutting move of their own.

Terms of the deal were not immediately available.

LISTEN: Saints Wire Podcast talks cap cuts and restructured contracts

The New Orleans Saints have had to make tough salary cap cuts and contract restructures, which we discussed on the Saints Wire Podcast.

Episode 23 of the Saints Wire Podcast is live, hosted by Ryan O’Leary (@RyanOLearySMG) with Saints Wire managing editor John Sigler (@john_siglerr). You can subscribe for new episodes on Apple Podcasts or your podcast app of choice, and catch up on past episodes in the playlist embedded below.

This week we’re reflecting on two tough salary cap cuts by the Saints in tight end Josh Hill and longtime punter Thomas Morstead — two players who have appeared in 307 combined regular season games for the black and gold. We also discussed exactly what happens when a player restructures their contract for cap purposes, and why it isn’t the pay cut many fans believe it to be. This episode was recorded before the Saints used the franchise tag on safety Marcus Williams and carried out another wave of cap cuts, which we’ll talk about next week.

Listen and let us know what you think:

[listicle id=43642]