Taysom Hill is expected to be “the guy” at quarterback for the Saints whenever Drew Brees decides to retire, as Jay Glazer of The Athletic writes. Brees has already signed a post-career deal with NBC Sports, and the 2020 season may or may not be his final year in the NFL, so Hill could be in line to become New Orleans’ starter as soon as next year. The drawbacks on Hill are apparent: he’ll be 31 years old when the 2021 campaign gets underway, and he’s only attempted 13 passes over the course of his career. But the Saints have nothing but shower with him praise in addition to extending him on a two-year pact that includes nearly $17.5MM in guaranteed money and a $16.1MM cap charge in 2021. Per Glazer, New Orleans isn’t attempting a “smokescreen” — the club is comfortable will Hill under center if Brees hangs up his cleats.
Here’s more from the NFL’s two South divisions:
- Deshaun Watson is expected top Russell Wilson‘s league-leading $35MM annual salary whenever he signs an extension with the Texans, but it’s possible the Houston signal-caller inks a short-term deal, as Sarah Barshop of ESPN.com writes. As is the case with Dak Prescott, Watson may push for a short deal that would allow him to hit free agency again in a few years, after new NFL television contracts have been signed and subsequently increased the league’s salary cap. In April, the Texans began preliminary discussions with Watson, who could end up signing a new deal before Patrick Mahomes, who was also drafted in 2017.
- After drafting Jonathan Taylor in Round 2, the Colts now have a pair of starting-caliber in running backs in the Wisconsin product and incumbent Marlon Mack. So where does that leave passing-game back Nyheim Hines? “I wouldn’t anticipate [Hines] is going to play as many snaps as Marlon and Jonathan, but there are still enough snaps for him to be very, very productive this year,” Colts head coach Frank Reich told Joel Erickson of the Indianapolis Star. Indy is hoping Hines becomes its version of Danny Woodhead, who caught 80 passes in for the Chargers in 2015 with Reich as offensive coordinator.
- PFR’s Zach Links recently examined the Buccaneers‘ pair of tight end trade candidates in O.J. Howard and Cameron Brate.
Watson should abbreviate the length of his contract if only to avoid getting stuck with Bill O’Brien for the entirety of his prime
Bill won’t be there long
If watson signs a short term extension can’t they still slap the franchise tag on him later once the short deal is done if he wants to hit free agency?
They could, but it’ll only inflate over time until it becomes an unmanageable financial burden
I think Tim Tebow only threw 13 passes too and they ran his bible thumping but to the Mets minor leagues.
Basically if Tebow was a Sean Payton pupil, hed still be playing football.
Hill is a nice gadget, going to be interesting to see him throw 13 passes in a quarter when Drew hangs them up.
Given that Tunsil’s deal is already done and that Hopkins was traded to supposedly make cap room for this deal, Watson has the leverage in this situation.
The only reason to accept a long term deal would be if he actually trusts O’Brien when he says that the Texans’ talent/dear capital exodus wasn’t just for anyone, but him specifically. The Texans can’t just act like another team and say, “Oh, we can plug in anybody at QB, even if you don’t take our contract offer.” They made those moves specifically for Watson. And Watson knows that. He has the leverage.
And then, accepting that, he would have to believe and trust in O’Brien to deliver on building a winning team. The money question is not really a question. The Texans committed unwittingly to paying whatever he wants, same as they did with Tunsil, by how much they gave up for his sake. If Watson doesn’t take a long term deal, it’s because he’d rather try with a different team-or maybe more accurately a different GM/coach.
It would be ironic if, after O’Brien gave up to set up this contract, he loses the guy that he pinned his hopes on.
Indy is hoping Hines becomes its version of Danny Woodhead, who caught 80 passes for the Chargers in 2015 with Reich as offensive coordinator.
Uh, the Chargers went 4-12 that season so maybe the Colts should revise those hopes.
Salary cap likely to go down after the massive revenue losses likely from the coronavirus, per recent media comments; don’t overplay your hands, players.