He's no longer a QB.
Taysom Hill has been a valuable Swiss Army Knife for the New Orleans Saints. The former BYU quarterback has been able to fill many roles in the NFL, taking snaps behind center, serving as a punt return gunner or upback, lining up as a running back, splitting wide as a receiver, and generally doing whatever former coach Sean Payton asked him to do across five years in Louisiana.
And like a Swiss Army Knife, he’s been wildly useful but not specifically excellent at any one thing. He’s most notably filled in for New Orleans’ injured quarterbacks. While he’s gone 7-2 as a starter, his passing was inconsistent and ultimately couldn’t will the team to the postseason in 2021.
After flirting with adding Deshaun Watson via trade, the Saints ultimately re-signed Jameis Winston to serve as their QB1 this spring. The former No. 1 overall pick won’t have to worry about outplaying Hill to secure his spot atop the depth chart. On Tuesday, new head coach Dennis Allen confirmed his intentions to move Hill elsewhere in his offense.
It’s an interesting decision for a player who is listed at only 6’2 and 221 pounds — roughly 2.5 inches and 35 pounds lighter than the typical NFL tight end. He only has 34 career receptions and 388 receiving yards as a pro. And since the Saints rewarded his versatility with a four-year, $40 million contract extension last November, he’ll enter 2022 as the seventh-richest tight end in the league.
Hill’s $40 million contract settles in behind Cameron Brate but ahead of Hunter Henry, Kyle Pitts, and Zach Ertz when it comes to overall contract value at the position. His $10 million salary ranks 11th in the league, just ahead of Evan Engram and Logan Thomas. Every single one of those players listed has had more receptions and receiving yards in a single season than Hill has in his entire NFL career.
The Saints have a definite need at tight end. That position group only combined for 55 catches in 17 games last season — 13 different tight ends had more than than in 2021 on their own. Their depth chart is currently led by Adam Trautman, Nick Vannett, and Juwan Johnson.
Given his useful running ability and gadget play experience, Hill will likely be used more as an H-back out of the backfield. From there, he can motion out to the slot or take wheel routes past overwhelmed linebackers. But if Allen is counting on him as an in-line blocker, he’s going to have a very bad time when his former quarterback is tasked with fending off a 275-pound edge rusher.
Hill is nominally a tight end, but his value remains as the guy Allen can turn to for whatever he needs — jet sweeps, QB sneaks, option halfback passes, etc. He’s being called on to fill a gaping hole for New Orleans as it enters a new era with few reliable pass catchers on the roster. With Blake Bortles and Ian Book as the team’s other rostered quarterbacks, he’s also likely just another Winston injury away from moving behind center.
But for now, the Saints have filled their hole at tight end with one of the most expensive players at his position. And as long as you ask no further questions, that sounds pretty good.
