|Mitch|

The New Orleans Saints appear to be set at tight end for the next three years.

The Saints matched the Bears’ three-year, $7.5 million offer to restricted free agent Josh Hill on Friday, adding Hill to a group that this offseason has brought in Coby Fleener and brought back Michael Hoomanawanui on a three-year deal.

Before free agency opened, New Orleans tendered Hill to the tune of $1.67 million, allowing the Saints to have the right of first refusal if any team tried to sign him away.

Hill, 25, has played the H-back, or move tight end, role for the Saints the past two seasons, hauling in 30 catches for 296 yards and seven touchdowns.

With Fleener and Hoomanawanui locked up for the foreseeable future and limited salary-cap space — the Saints opened the day with just $273,215 available — there was widespread speculation that New Orleans might allow Hill to move on to Chicago.