Tag: Taysom Hill

Sean Payton thinks another team could try to sign RFA Taysom Hill

The New Orleans Saints have tough decisions to make with all of their quarterbacks, and Sean Payton is concerned Taysom Hill may not return.

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What’s to be done with Taysom Hill? The New Orleans Saints restricted free agent endeared himself to fans by making plays in just about any role asked of him, lining up all over the field. It’s enough for Saints coach Sean Payton to tell anyone who will listen that Hill is his quarterback of the future.

But actions speak louder than words — more than half of Hill’s 2019 snaps were taken on special teams, and he spent significantly more time at receiver or tight end than at quarterback. If Payton is telling the truth about envisioning the Hill’s future (which includes his 30th birthday later this year) at quarterback, he’s telling us something different in how Hill is actually playing.

And it’s worth noting that we’re about a month removed from Payton admitting that he lied about not being interested in free agent wide receiver Antonio Brown. The offseason is lying season in the NFL.

That said: Payton isn’t just concerned another team could poach Hill — he’s expecting an attempt. The Saints coach made an appearance on The Peter King Podcast and gave his take on what could lie ahead in Hill’s restricted free agency.

“Yeah, I think someone is going to make him an offer. But the first thing the fan has to understand is,” Payton said, “if we tender Taysom as a one [a first-round tag], the team that makes the offer on him and signs him to an offer understands they’re going to give up a first-round pick if we don’t match. That’s easier to do if you’re pick 22, 23, 24, 25. We might very well see it if it’s a team in the second half of the [first round].”

So, it’s early in the process. It’s unclear which rookie quarterbacks will be available in the first round beyond the top tier of Joe Burrow, Tua Tagovailoa, and Justin Herbert. But Payton seems to be suggesting that other teams could go after Hill if they’re not confident that better options will be on the table in the latter half of the first round.

And that’s where the Saints must make some tough decisions. What’s more valuable? Taking a chance that Hill is more than a flash in the pan, and could thrive despite his age and lengthy injury history (four of his five years at BYU ended on injured reserve) might not be worth it on a starting quarterback’s salary at $15 million or more per year.

When the possibility is there to recoup a first-round pick and the talents that are available (meaning a top receiver prospect like LSU’s Justin Jefferson or Clemson’s Tee Higgins), as well as the five years of rookie contract control that come with it, the Saints have to be tempted if another team makes a significant offer.

And maybe that’s Payton’s grand plan, even if it requires some serious overthinking to suss it out. The Saints won five games with their backup quarterback last season and have a clear succession plan in place, but it doesn’t involve Hill. Teddy Bridgewater proved to be someone they can ride with. The smart move could be getting another team to swap a high draft pick for Hill and surround Bridgewater, the proven commodity, with more weapons.

But we’re getting ahead of ourselves. It all hinges on whether Drew Brees chooses to return for one more run at a Super Bowl or begin what looks like a busy retirement. And until he makes his decision, this is just speculation from all involved, including Payton himself.

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WR, TE, QB, FB, RB? Just how many positions did Taysom Hill play in 2019?

The New Orleans Saints played Taysom Hill just about everywhere during the 2019 season, but more than half his snaps were on special teams.

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What’s the next chapter in Taysom Hill’s story? The do-it-all playmaker has a reputation as a Swiss Army knife, seeming to succeed everywhere the New Orleans Saints put him in just about any role. But where exactly did he line up in 2019?

It can be hard to distinguish that. Hill takes reps from all over the Saints offense, lining up out wide as a receiver on one play before trotting over to lead-block as a fullback. He’s auditioned at tight end and thrived as a slot receiver, also playing sparingly as a quarterback. And that doesn’t even get into his many responsibilities on special teams.

Thankfully, the team at Pro Football Focus is here to help. They charted every snap Hill played in 2019, and recorded each position he lined up — totaling 572 snaps in 17 games, including the playoffs. However, just 264 of those plays came on offense; 54% of Hill’s action was spent on special teams, running with the punt and kicking units.

Here’s an illustration of Hill’s usage in a pie chart we put together using PFF data:

So there’s an answer: considered all of his assignments, it’s safe to say that Hill played 10 different positions during the 2019 season. But while more than half of Hill’s contributions came on special teams, what we’re really curious about is his usage on offense. So here’s a second chart that’s filtered down the positions played on offense, and combined his snaps at receiver (72 in the slot, 44 out wide):

That paints a better portrait of what kind of talent he is, and where Hill’s career may go next. He may insist on being designated a quarterback — and Saints coach Sean Payton might be determined to tell anyone who’ll listen that it’s the case — but actions speak louder than words. And so far, the Saints have shown a greater willingness to play Hill at other positions, and it’s tough to argue with the results. He caught 21 of 24 targets for 259 receiving yards and 7 touchdowns last season, also logging 31 carries for 206 rushing yards and another score. Great things happen when Hill gets the football as a receiver or runner, and the Saints should continue to prioritize that.

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Taysom Hill clarifies what his fantasy football position should be

Taysom Hill, who has played many positions for the New Orleans Saints beyond just quarterback, has thoughts on his fantasy football position

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What position should Taysom Hill say he plays, when asked? The easy answer is “football player,” but that doesn’t square easily with the rabid fantasy football community, who have been confounded by the New Orleans Saints’ so-called quarterback who logs more snaps at other positions in kickoff and punt coverage, field goal protection, tight end, slot receiver, and fullback, among others.

So, it’s a tougher question to answer than it appears at first glance. The fantasy football community has been in uproar over Hill’s usage in New Orleans, initially due to his habit of “vulturing” short-yardage touchdowns from both Alvin Kamara (on running plays) and Michael Thomas (on slant passes), but that response evolved as Hill became more of a regular feature in the Saints offense. Now that he’s become a weekly threat to score or gain big chunks of yardage (having hit paydirt eight times in 2019, including the playoffs), there’s fantasy points being left untouched by team managers.

What’s specifically frustrating for them is that Hill is listed as a quarterback in most formats, meaning they would have to bench a starting quarterback in conventional leagues to take advantage of Hill’s unique workload. Some two-quarterback systems opened the door for him to make an impact, but that’s a small niche within the broader industry. Many formats include a “flex” position in addition to your standard groupings (quarterback, running back, wide receiver, and tight end) but that slot is rarely available for quarterbacks.

It’s something Hill acknowledged when Matt Harmon of Yahoo Fantasy Sports asked what position he should be listed at. “Oh man, well,” Hill answered, choosing his words very carefully, “It would be hard to argue with all the comments last year after I probably should have been a ‘flex’ in the 2019 season, but I better stay at quarterback for the future.”

Maybe that’s a sign that more pass attempts are in Hill’s future. Whatever the case, his distinctive skills set should continue to frustrate fantasy football players all over the world.

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Drew Brees thinks he can continue to coexist with Taysom Hill, endorses more Hill-designed touches

New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees is a fan of do-it-all backup Taysom Hill, who he acknowledged as one of the team’s best playmakers

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What are the New Orleans Saints going to do at quarterback? Drew Brees, Teddy Bridgewater, and Taysom Hill are each headed for free agency, and Bridgewater has more or less made his peace with the reality that he could be playing for a new team next year. While it would be difficult for the Saints to retain all three of them, the most-realistic scenario would be a combination of Brees and Hill, whose restricted free agent status makes him easiest to re-sign for 2020.

And that’s a future Brees is comfortable seeing through. During an appearance on Pro Football Talk Live with Chris Simms, Brees said, “If I’m back, and Taysom’s along side me, call the plays that puts us in the best position to win. If that means Taysom Hill is taking 30 snaps a game, 25 snaps a game, so be it. I’m all for that.”

Hill averaged 15 snaps per game last season, and only reached the 25-snap bar three times in the entire year — doing so in Weeks 13, 15, and 16. Brees arguing for increased usage out of the third-string quarterback (whose chess-piece role as a runner, receiver, and blocker is really more analogous to San Francisco 49ers fullback Kyle Jusczyk than any other player) certainly passes the smell test.

It’s tough to argue with that stance. Hill was an electric presence for the Saints offense in 2019, making big plays both as a runner and receiver thanks to his unique athleticism. He has a lot of work to do before he’ll be ready to play as a full-time quarterback, so his short-term projection looks a lot like last season — when he ran 31 times to gain 209 yards (6.7 yards per attempt) and caught 21 passes for 259 receiving yards, scoring 8 combined touchdowns from scrimmage. It makes plenty of sense that Brees wants to see Hill getting more touches. But it’ll be fascinating to see how the situation develops in the months ahead.

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Is Teddy Bridgewater’s time in New Orleans over?

Decisions have to be made in New Orleans this offseason regarding the quarterback position. 

Decisions have to be made in New Orleans this offseason regarding the quarterback position.

Will Drew Brees retire? If Brees does retire, will Taysom Hill be the next quarterback in line to start for the Saints? What about Teddy Bridgewater, who filled in for Brees when he was injured?

“To have all three of those guys back is probably very unlikely,” Saints coach Sean Payton said Thursday on Super Bowl Live. “You really appreciate the season you had when you had all three of them.”

It makes you wonder who the odd man out is and based on everything we’ve heard, it sounds like Hill will return, even if Brees doesn’t retire.

We’ll likely see Bridgewater on a new team in 2020, and one where he’ll likely compete for a starting spot. Where will that be? A few teams that come to mind are the Raiders, Bears, Chargers and Dolphins.

Something to keep an eye on for an old friend of the Vikings.

Drew Brees says he’ll decide on NFL future in ‘a month or so’

New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees isn’t ready to commit to a return in 2020, choosing to enjoy the Pro Bowl festivities and wait.

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It’ll be the New Orleans Saints or retirement for Drew Brees, the Hall of Fame-bound quarterback who’s played 19 seasons in the NFL. Brees has broken every record in the book during his 14 years with the Saints, and seen each of his four children grow up in New Orleans. With his contract set to expire in March, he knows that a lot of people are waiting for him to decide whether he’ll play one more year — including the Saints themselves, who must also work out new contracts with backups Teddy Bridgewater and Taysom Hill. For his part, Brees is just sorry that he can’t give any better soundbites at this time.

Brees apologized for responding with “the same boring answers each year” during a Saturday media availability session ahead of the 2020 Pro Bowl game. He’s a backup for the NFC team this year, meaning he’ll have to wait for Seattle Seahawks star Russell Wilson to run the first-string offense in the all-star game before Brees gets his own spot in the limelight. But he’s just content in getting to share the time with his peers and family.

“Obviously being here, I’m just very much focused on my family and this opportunity to be be around the guys, playing the game,” Brees told Nola.com’s Amie Just. “Then, I’ll kind of lay low for a little bit, get away and then assess. I kind of have a process in mind. And I’ll give it a month or so.”

Brees typically spends the offseason in San Diego, taking his children to the beach during the summer while training with former teammates like Darren Sproles and Brandin Cooks, as well as his favorite target, Michael Thomas. Respected opponents like NFC South-rival defensive lineman Gerald McCoy have also joined him for workouts during his West Coast sabbaticals.

So he’ll take some time to decompress from a tough 2019 season, which saw the 41-year-old quarterback set back by a thumb injury to his throwing hand, as well as another crushing postseason exit. There’s no questioning whether Brees played well enough last year to warrant one more run at another Super Bowl title — but it would be easy to square with his thinking if it’s time for him to step away from the game.

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2019 Saints Season in Review: Quarterback Taysom Hill

We continue our season reviews at Saints Wire with New Orleans Saints quarterback and pending restricted free agent, Taysom Hill.

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We continue our season reviews at Saints Wire with New Orleans Saints third-string quarterback and pending restricted free agent, Taysom Hill. In 2019, Hill saw an expanded role on the offense from his 2018 production, and continued to be a stalwart on the special teams unit.

Hill quickly gained with the fan base in 2018 when he was utilized in a utility-type role, rather than his conventional position. In 2019, that role became even more prominent earning him the nickname of “Swiss Army Knife”.

Level of play in 2019

Hill cannot be judged solely on his quarterbacking skills in 2019. If that’s the case, his 105 passing yards seem quite lackluster. Instead, what is most impressive are his receiving touchdowns on the season. His seven receiving touchdowns (including the playoffs) put him ahead of players such as Julio Jones, Julian Edelman, and Zach Ertz. It also proved that he became a legitimate weapon for Drew Brees to use on the offense.

On top of his scoring production, Hill was heavily relied upon in short-down situations, and was successful at converting first downs in those situations. Hill’s value is hard to determine due to the fact that he plays in nearly every facet of the game, aside from defense. However, New Orleans was able to utilize Hill in an incredibly unique role that did make the Saints offense more productive.

What to expect in 2020

Hill is a restricted free agent this offseason, which means there are plenty of options for him and the team. There are three different tender options which could be placed on Hill, and the fourth option is to just allow him to walk.

We did an exercise on Hill’s possibilities recently, and a second-round tender would make the most sense for New Orleans. With a second-round tender, teams are less likely to give up their second round pick for Hill, which would allow the Saints to keep him on the team for below-market value. However, there are a number of teams who may take a flier on Hill, which could allow New Orleans to recoup the second-round pick that traded last year.

If Hill does stay with the Saints, his role will likely remain the same. With Brees all but assuredly returning for another season, Hill will continue to fill gaps and play a utility role in the offense. Not a bad prospect considering his breakout 2019 campaign.

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The argument for not spending the most-valuable RFA tender on Taysom Hill

The New Orleans Saints have a tough decision to make for pending free agent Taysom Hill, and other teams might make it only more difficult.

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What are the New Orleans Saints going to do with Taysom Hill? As a pending restricted free agent, they have plenty of options. The Saints can either re-sign Hill to a long-term contract extension, let him walk away uncontested, or issue one of three different one-year tenders, each worth slightly more than the ones beneath it and fully-guaranteed against the salary cap. With five different restricted free agents to consider, the Saints must act quickly.

The lowest-level contract tender is estimated to cost about $2.1 million, and would give the Saints the right to match any contract offers Hill gets from other teams. The middle-tier tender is expected to be worth roughly $3.2 million, and would recoup a second-round draft pick for the Saints should they not match an offer sheet. The top-level tender will be somewhere around $4.6 million in value and brings back a first-round pick if Hill leaves.

That makes the second-round tender the smart choice. One of several things would happen:

  • Hill receives no offers, and plays the 2020 season on a below-market $3.2 million (estimated) salary cap hit
  • Hill receives an offer, which the Saints match, and keep him around long-term on whatever his market value is
  • Hill receives an offer, and the Saints decline to match, replacing the second-round pick they lost in last year’s draft-day trade

Right now, it’s unclear what Hill’s value will be on the open market. If teams view him as a backup quarterback with starter’s upside, he should be worth about $7.5 million per year (like Ryan Tannehill, Teddy Bridgewater, and Case Keenum). If he’s perceived as an Andy Dalton-esque mid-level starter, that number climbs to $16 million per year. Even low-level backups like Chase Daniel, Ryan Fitzpatrick, and Tyrod Taylor are getting $5 million per year or better.

But that assumes his future really lies at quarterback. Despite the Steve Young comparisons floating around, Hill’s best work comes everywhere but quarterback. He caught as many touchdown passes in the 2019 regular season as passes he’s completed in his career (6). He’s a very fun player, but his talents are best used elsewhere.

And the clock is ticking on how much longer he’ll have the athleticism he’s thrived with recently. Hill turns 30 later this year and has a lengthy injury history from his college days, though he’s managed to avoid damaging hits so far in the NFL. He could look like a very different (and much more limited) athlete in just three or four years, and he hasn’t shown the passing ability to compensate for it.

So what could his contract look like if he continues to play such a nebulous position, listed at quarterback but doing everything else? The low end might be San Francisco 49ers fullback Kyle Juszczyk, who similarly blocks, runs, and catches while earning $5.25 million per year. The Detroit Lions just paid backup tight end Jesse James $5.65 million per year, while starters like Trey Burton ($8 million), Jared Cook ($7.5 million), Tyler Higbee ($7.25 million), and Jack Doyle ($7.1 million) each set a hypothetical lead for Hill to chase. His ability to throw and play special teams should only raise that bar.

It all shapes up for another difficult road to arbitration not unlike the Jimmy Graham franchise tag dispute that once dominated an offseason. Even if the Saints successfully keep Hill around for 2020 on a tender (at whichever level suits you), this is an obstacle they’ll have to overcome sooner or later. Better to let other teams make Hill an offer and decide what his market value is, and then choose whether it’s a price the Saints are willing to pay.

Teams will not give up a first round pick for a 30-year-old, maybe-quarterback. But there are several franchises that could justify giving up a second-rounder, like the Indianapolis Colts (who have two picks in the second round, at Nos. 34 and 44), Miami Dolphins (picking at Nos. 39 and 56), Seattle Seahawks (Nos. 59 and 64), and even the Atlanta Falcons (Nos. 47 and 55). Any of those teams could have varying degrees of interest in Hill as a quarterback, tight end, or versatile weapon like the Saints currently use him.

And any of those picks is worth more to the Saints than what he’s currently doing. They could use a second-rounder to help land a real developmental passer who, unlike Hill, has time to grow and play a long time (like 21-year-olds Jordan Love or Jalen Hurts). Or they could pick up badly-needed receiving help who won’t need to be schemed touches, and can beat opponents outright for the next decade (such as tight end Thaddeus Moss, or wide receivers Justin Jefferson and Brandon Aiyuk).

This is an opportunity for the Saints to gain more certainty and answer some questions, regardless of how badly it would upset Hill’s biggest fans. And that’s understandable: he hasn’t let anyone down yet. He’s caught every pass and converted every first down and lucked out with some great adjustments by his receivers on a couple of ugly passes deep downfield. But the law of averages suggest that at some point he’ll regress, and the Saints would do better to move on too soon than invest too much in him too late.

All of this in mind: we don’t know what’s going to happen in March. The Saints could very well value Hill so strongly that they anchor themselves to him with the first-round tender, or even a contract extension. They could also pinch pennies and risk a right-of-first-refusal tender, which would recoup no draft picks if he leaves. It’s risky, but the second-round tender is a happy medium that doesn’t cost much but promises many of the same results as the most-expensive level option.

So here’s our proposal. What would you choose? Matching a contract offer in the range of four years and $33 million, or a draft pick in the first half of the second round, and the cheap four-year rookie deal that comes with it? This is the sort of problem the Saints must grapple with in the months ahead.

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Saints players react to Zion Williamson’s big Pelicans debut

New Orleans Saints players Taysom Hill, Craig Robertson, Thomas Morstead, and Michael Thomas were wowed by Pelicans rookie Zion Williamson.

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Zion Williamson finally made his rookie year debut for the New Orleans Pelicans, and a number of Saints players were watching and in attendance. While courtside mainstays like Cameron Jordan and Alvin Kamara were out of town getting ready for the 2020 Pro Bowl, teammates including Taysom Hill and Craig Robertson were tuning in for the game.

So they got a great look at the 6-foot-6, 284-pound 19-year-old’s first regular season game. And Williamson didn’t disappoint, ending his night with 22 points scored, seven rebounds, and three assists, including four difficult three-point shots down the stretch to give the Pelicans the lead. But he was playing on a minutes restriction in his first game back from preseason meniscus surgery, so he wasn’t able to see his team through to a win just yet.

Still, it was a terrific first impression, and should bode well for the future of Pelicans basketball in New Orleans. That’s great news for sports fans in and around the city as well as those Pelicans fans on the Saints roster. Expect to see plenty more crossover episodes as the NBA season — and Williamson’s young saga — marches forward.

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If Teddy Bridgewater leaves in free agency, who could replace him?

The New Orleans Saints will have options to replace Teddy Bridgewater in free agency with Marcus Mariota, Mike Glennon, and other veterans.

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What are the New Orleans Saints going to do at quarterback this year?

It’s an easy question to ask, and almost too simple to try and answer. They should re-sign Drew Brees for one more year, if he’s willing, because he gives the Saints their best shot at winning a Super Bowl title. They should also keep Teddy Bridgewater around as a top-paid backup, because he impressed while winning all five of his starts. And Taysom Hill should return on a cheap restricted free agent tender; he’s a fun weapon who can run and catch, but has shown some serious limitations as a passer. It’s fine if his future isn’t at quarterback.

But things rarely go according to plan in the NFL. Bridgewater should be a hot commodity in free agency — we’ve already highlighted several teams who could try to sign him away from New Orleans. While the Saints can’t afford to pay a starter’s salary to both Brees and Bridgewater (or other top free agents like Dak Prescott, Ryan Tannehill, or Jameis Winston), he’s definitely earned it, and it’s very possible the backup leaves town in pursuit of a starting gig.

So let’s say Bridgewater bows out for greater opportunities, while Brees and Hill remain. Which free agents could the Saints try to recruit in free agency to pad out the depth chart at quarterback? Here are four options that could make sense.

Marcus Mariota

He makes sense if… The Saints see him as a future starter. Mariota is on the outs, having flopped as a high first-round pick with the Tennessee Titans. But it’s not like he was surrounded by offensive masterminds. In fact, he’s had to work with a new coordinator every year he’s played in the NFL. The Saints could offer rare stability for the 26-year-old quarterback, who thrived with similar passing concepts in college. Mariota is kind of similar to Bridgewater, having protected the ball well while struggling to pull the trigger on deep-field throws. Maybe Saints coach Sean Payton can tap into the potential the Titans squandered.

Trevor Siemian

He makes sense if… Payton wants another reclamation project. An ugly ankle injury ended Siemian’s season before it could get off the ground, but he’s a mechanically-sound passer who’s won games in this league. Granted, he’s only gone 13-11 as a starter with the Denver Broncos, but that isn’t far from Bridgewater’s mark of 17-11 with the Minnesota Vikigns. Siemian has shown he can navigate a collapsing pocket and hit receivers in stride. He’d be worth a look as someone who could develop behind Brees and compete with Hill for the starting job in the future.

Chase Daniel

He makes sense if… The Saints aren’t worried about life after 2020. Let’s say that the Saints have a ton of faith in Hill’s projection in the long-term. If he’s their guy after Brees calls it a career, they won’t need a younger option to work with while pursuing a Super Bowl berth next season. Daniel knows the offense well, won’t break the bank, and can provide a steady presence for Brees to workshop new signature handshakes with during his swan song. At 33, he could easily stick around as a safety blanket should Hill struggle in the starting role later on down the road.

Mike Glennon

He makes sense if… Chase Daniel is ready to retire. Maybe Daniel wants to go out on top, with $34.3 million and a couple of Super Bowl rings to his credit. If so, Glennon makes sense as a veteran alternative. Payton has been a fan of Glennon going back to the 2014 NFL Draft, even if the N.C. State product’s career hasn’t gone as hoped. He was immediately replaced by the Chicago Bears when they made an ill-advised trade up for Mitchell Trubisky, and spent last season quietly on the bench behind Oakland Raiders passer Derek Carr. Maybe Payton still likes him enough to ask Glennon to hold a clipboard for a year while Brees chases another Super Bowl.

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