Reports: 'Taysom Hill experiment at quarterback over' for the Saints
 

As GnomeSaint mentioned in another thread, this got buried in the roster thread, but could lead to some good conversation.

Reports: 'Taysom Hill experiment at quarterback over' for the Saints

Ross Jackson
March 19, 2022 2:51 pm CT

After five years of exploration with Taysom Hill playing several roles on offense, it looks like the tryouts at quarterback have come to an end with the New Orleans Saints. The Athletic’s Larry Holder joined Michael Fabiano’s Fantasy Dirt show on Sirius XM and explained that the all-purpose player will not “be a part of that conversation” relative to the Saints open quarterback spot ahead of 2022.

Hill has taken 748 snaps at quarterback over the last four seasons with the Saints. He built momentum as the heir-apparent to Drew Brees’ in 2020 and filled in for Jameis Winston in 2021, navigating several injuries. Hill holds a career win-loss record of 7-2 as a starter. However, it looks like that won’t be enough to convince New Orleans to offer more opportunities as a signal-caller coming for the former BYU Cougar. One has to wonder how much Sean Payton’s departure factors into the equation as well as the former Saints coach was a champion of Hill’s.

Payton once referred to Hill as a “Steve Young type” and consistently shared his vote of confidence that he could be a starting quarterback in the NFL. But now, it looks like that part of Hill’s career trajectory has come to an end with the team. Nola.com’s Luke Johnson reported a similar story following this year’s NFL scouting combine as well. It looks like Hill’s role in New Orleans will shift to his pass-catching talents as opposed to what he can offer as a passer himself, which was reflected in the base value of his contract prior to a recent restructure.

This might signal more than Hill not getting the opportunity to compete for the starting role, but it may also mean fewer “Taysom Hill packages” on offense and swapping of signal callers throughout games. That could be appealing for an incoming passer who doesn’t necessarily want to feel like he’s being competed with throughout the season. After the Saints’ uncomfortable run at Deshaun Watson over the last week, a clear path ahead at quarterback would be a welcome sight for the franchise.

Re: Reports: 'Taysom Hill experiment at quarterback over' for the Saints
 

I would be personally happy if the Taysom experiment at QB is indeed finally over. I see his upside being far more limited than Jameis, for example. He has been much more valuable in a supporting role with the offense rather than the one taking all of the snaps.

Re: Reports: 'Taysom Hill experiment at quarterback over' for the Saints
 

I agree but that is total speculation (stating the obvious at best). I didn’t read anything about anyone getting this info from a source of any kind.
This is the kind of article you would blast someone for posting had it been about one of the players you have a man crush on.

Re: Reports: 'Taysom Hill experiment at quarterback over' for the Saints
 

I hope so.

Re: Reports: 'Taysom Hill experiment at quarterback over' for the Saints
 

Does he go the QB-turned-slot WR route like Julian Edelman? Or does he go TE?

Re: Reports: 'Taysom Hill experiment at quarterback over' for the Saints
 

I think he’s gonna want out.

Re: Reports: 'Taysom Hill experiment at quarterback over' for the Saints
 

I'd like to see Taysom put most of his work at TE/h-back and still be a threat on the QB Power run plays.

Re: Reports: 'Taysom Hill experiment at quarterback over' for the Saints
 

Agreed, he could do some real damage in our offense as a hybrid TE and H back.

Re: Reports: 'Taysom Hill experiment at quarterback over' for the Saints
 

After his injury I doubt he’s going to want to put his body on the line playing Joker, WR, TE. If he still insists he is/wants to be a Qb I can see him wanting out.

Re: Reports: 'Taysom Hill experiment at quarterback over' for the Saints
 

That's the role I'm looking at for him, too. It's a very real need right now and he clearly has the skillset to excel at the position(s).

Re: Reports: 'Taysom Hill experiment at quarterback over' for the Saints
 

I have a feeling he's seen the writing on the wall. He can make a solid living for that new family of his by transitioning into a ball catching role.

Re: Reports: 'Taysom Hill experiment at quarterback over' for the Saints
 

I hope so. Taysom has so much talent to help us in different ways......just not QB...........has Winston signed yet!!!!!!!

Re: Reports: 'Taysom Hill experiment at quarterback over' for the Saints
 

"but it may also mean fewer “Taysom Hill packages” on offense and swapping of signal callers throughout games"
OK, this doesn't make any sense. We tried to get a running QB, didn't, so now we'll not use packages for our current (pass/run type) QB? That doesn't make sense to me or am I missing something?

Re: Reports: 'Taysom Hill experiment at quarterback over' for the Saints
 

Should have moved to FB/TE ages ago. He isn't and never will be a top 15 QB.
And Winston will only maybe at best crack into the top 10/12
For all the good things he did last year Kamara looked unimpressed with him plenty, missing short passes, often throwing over his head.

Re: Reports: 'Taysom Hill experiment at quarterback over' for the Saints
 

That dead money cap hit would sting though.

Head scratcher on Taysom's contract & same goes for Tumbleweed Andrus Peat.

Re: Reports: 'Taysom Hill experiment at quarterback over' for the Saints
 

Does the dead money change if he’s not listed as a Qb? I know the contract was structured in such a way that he would make significantly more if he played X amount of games as Qb.

Re: Reports: 'Taysom Hill experiment at quarterback over' for the Saints
 

Not sure of the exact details but good luck finding a "trade partner" with his cap implications.

Re: Reports: 'Taysom Hill experiment at quarterback over' for the Saints
 

Good. Maybe we can end the Andrus Peat at offensive guard experiment too. Now its time to see if Taysom Hill is the next Jahvid Best, Coby Fleener, or Demaryius Thomas.

Re: Reports: 'Taysom Hill experiment at quarterback over' for the Saints
 

We should have never paid him the way we did. Payton was crazy for that one.

Re: Reports: 'Taysom Hill experiment at quarterback over' for the Saints
 

Taysom may or not hold up to the damaging tackles. He was an injury waiting to happen in college. Now he's been concussed and has the Lynz franc injury which may not let him see the field anytime soon. He needs to play this season wherever and whenever possible and collect that unrealistic check. He is the true Swiss army knife. Then look at next year to decide whether to come back.

Re: Reports: 'Taysom Hill experiment at quarterback over' for the Saints
 

His check isn't that unrealistic. Much of that initial published contract number was tied to QB related incentives such as passing yardage, total TD's passing, passer rating, etcetera, with a certain number of percentage of snaps at QB and number of pass attempts in regular season and playoff game appearances. Otherwise his average salary is pretty much in line with top 18 TE's. ($7-$15 million range)

His cap hit this season is only $5.125 million. Next season it's $13.925 million with restructure range around $7.5 million.

Taysom Hill Contract Details

Re: Reports: 'Taysom Hill experiment at quarterback over' for the Saints
 

But his 2023 salary is guaranteed and beyond 2024-2026 we owe him an additional $10 million in prorated bonuses, so if it turns out that a 32 year old converted QB coming off a bad concussion, a lisfranc injury, and a host of other injuries in his past with an extremely physical playing style and no knack for avoiding big hits does not prove so productive in 2022 and we need to move on, then we either have 24 million in dead cap in 2023 or we wait post June 1 and pay the guy $10 million in 2024 when he is not on the roster, or more likely with Loomis we restructure forevery and in the 2026 void year we owe $20 million for a field goal kick holder whose contract voided out, and that money is the difference in having to let one of our starters walk. Hills contract would not be so bad for a proven TE, but its very bad for a 32 year old injury prone unproven TE coming off bad injuries.

Re: Reports: 'Taysom Hill experiment at quarterback over' for the Saints
 

Every team in the league has a number of players in less than ideal situations. Several have been forced to cut still productive players that simply could not fit within their cap because of the inflexibility in their contracts which were first drawn. We've been able to retain all but one significant player (Williams) so far, while replacing that one with a comparable option (Mayes). There are still plenty of options out there, as well, in the free agent market to fill other needs.

Re: Reports: 'Taysom Hill experiment at quarterback over' for the Saints
 

Everybody knows this already mr bookkeeper.

Re: Reports: 'Taysom Hill experiment at quarterback over' for the Saints
 

Tayson Hill is "ONE CONCUSSION" away from being the Saints Austin Collie.

Re: Reports: 'Taysom Hill experiment at quarterback over' for the Saints
 

Call me crazy but I still believe that Taysom is the answer. If he goes somewhere else we'll be sorry.

Re: Reports: 'Taysom Hill experiment at quarterback over' for the Saints
 

The answer to what?

Re: Reports: 'Taysom Hill experiment at quarterback over' for the Saints
 

Not a chance, at least not without eating huge dead money 16.9ml cap hit next year, all but 1.3ml is guaranteed.

For all those saying next years cap is easy
As of projected now

15ml(on a projected 20ml rise for 2023) over with 33 players under contract

CGJ
McCoy
Harty
Ingram
Tuttle
Calloway
Throckmorten


added Davenport,Onyemata,Kpassagnon who deals void

You better belive its more of the same next year and Cam,Peats contracts and getting the restructured treatment. They will be on the roster well past being worth what they will be paid.


The roster is far too top heavy
6 players are taking over 130ml of the 225ml cap. With Cam and Thomas taking over 25ml each

Oh all this is with no LT or QB on the roster

Re: Reports: 'Taysom Hill experiment at quarterback over' for the Saints
 

Considering that the Saints have struck out so far in the free agent and trade markets, it may be a little premature to declare the experiment is over.

IMO, with a better supporting cast, he will be a viable option at QB for a couple years until a long term solution is found.

With all that said, if Hill wants to continue playing in any capacity, he does need to learn how to better protect himself.

Re: Reports: 'Taysom Hill experiment at quarterback over' for the Saints
 

I haven't given up on Peat and Cam had one of his better years this past season.

Re: Reports: 'Taysom Hill experiment at quarterback over' for the Saints
 

The point is what do we do if their play goes down - or Peat stays down. The point is 100% accurate. Kicking the can puts the team in these situations mr bookkeeper. As usual you couldn't find a clue with both hands and a map...

:rolleyes: