It sounds like Taysom Hill‘s stint as a quarterback has come to an end. Speaking with reporters at the owners meeting, Saints head coach Dennis Allen said Hill will primarily play tight end in 2022.
“A lot more of the F-tight end, a tight end type of role,” Allen said (via WDSU.com). “I think that’s the direction we need to move with him. Because I think he may be one of the better players in the league in that role.”
According to Jeff Duncan of NOLA.com (on Twitter), it was always the Saints’ plan to move Hill to a full-time tight end. The player’s four-year extension was designed to pay him like a tight end, and the escalators were only in place for the slim chance that Hill returned to the quarterback position.
Hill flirted with the quarterback position early in his career, and he had opportunities to show what he’s got while filling in for Drew Brees in 2020 and filling in for Jameis Winston during the post-Brees 2021 campaign. While the Saints have gone 7-2 when Hill has started under center, he’s still only tossed eight touchdowns vs. eight interceptions while completing 64.2 percent of his passes.
Of course, Hill has also shown the ability to be a game-changer in a Swiss Army Knife-type role. Over the past four years, Hill has collected 1,571 yards from scrimmage and 23 touches on 255 touches.
He’s already 31 and they’re still on the hook to pay him like he was ever going to develop into something more than a guy who’s impressive for being mediocre at several different things. Swiss Army Knives aren’t good when you’re in your kitchen and should be using a real knife.
Well said
I still think it’s important to at least give a shot to these guys who can play hybrid rolls. Much like the whole “dual” player in baseball. Not saying Hill is an Otani or whatever, but I think that while yes, in the majority of cases it’s a gimmick, if a guy can give you reasonable value in a position there’s no harm giving him the opportunity to be that guy.
I mean they were 7-2 when he was starting, he’s a great mobile QB, he just can’t throw as well as a mobile QB in their mid twenties. Plus they clearly saw what they liked in Winston, and see the value in Hill being a TE rather than a QB
But he’d have to be great at that to be a value, given what tight ends make.
I do see your point here regarding Hill as a highly paid TE, but I also think that’s important to note that his contract is mostly valued in incentives. The deal isn’t as prohibitively expensive as most people think, because it’s mostly not guaranteed.
Mostly not guaranteed? Lol. Go check that out bud. He has 29million in dead money this year. With no realistic out for the Saints until 2025. He has a to. Of guaranteed money on his deal.
Dead cap and guaranteed salary are not the same thing. Only $11 million or so of his money is still guaranteed. That dead cap was the Saints making the contract worse by shifting all of his cap hit to next year. The contract structure was bad, I will certainly give you that. Other next year, Hill be, as others have said, a highly paid TE. If he works out at that position (which he may not, given his size), the Saints can at least get some value from it.
Hill was Paytons project. No surprise the new regime has different thoughts.
Still a player most any team would like. FB, HB, TE and the occasional pass/RPO can be an asset for sure.
Except that he’s getting paid like a top of the market tight end.
I mean… NFL contracts are basically Monopoly money anyways :D.
But yeah, he’s worth money especially if used correctly just not top end money for any position.
And, he’s proven NOTHING as far as earning that level of $$$$cash!
Sounds like Tim Tebow.
He still is valuable as a qb in short yardage and goal line. Winston and Hill have very different skill sets and I would think you would want to take full advantage of them.
Allen: Hey Hill you are playing TE this year.
Hill: Man F TE
Allen: Yeah that’s exactly it. You are playing F-TE. Thanks for understanding
I tell you what Kordell Stewart should have embraced it more and he probably would been in the league atleast 5 more years and made a heckuva lot more money. Could also been a top tier wr but let pride get in his way.
who ?
Tebow too if he didn’t walk away and then try to come back years later. Instead he said “I’m a QB”…yeah an unemployed QB at that.
but saints fans have been saying he’s a top 10 qb for years I don’t understand what happened
I want to see one example of somebody-literally anybody-saying that.
No one said that
“Hill has also shown the ability to be a game-changer in a Swiss Army Knife-type role”.
I’m sure Goodell will have the NFL playing games in Switzerland soon if the adventure to Germany goes well.
I remember when some football analysts tried to sell us that this guy could replace Drew Brees.
Hill is a great guy to have around because he’s so versatile.
Silly Payton Project! Payton put the saints years behind! Cheat win a Super Bowl! Destroy a franchise but at least you have a one sided Netflix movie!