2 months ago
Carrying four quarterbacks on a 53-man regular season roster is exceptionally rare in the modern NFL. Most of the examples of it happening include paperwork tricks and versatile signal callers like Taysom Hill during his New Orleans Saints days.
For the sake of maintaining depth at every other position, the formula is clear. One starter. One backup. One third stringer who spends most weeks either inactive or dipping down to the practice squad.
The Steelers may be the next exception to the rule as they juggle their present interests in winning with their future interests of finding their next franchise guy.
Required Reading: Steelers preseason opener winners, losers: Debuting QBs shine vs Packers
Even a diminished Aaron Rodgers showed last season that he's the best available option for GM Omar Khan and coach Mike McCarthy in the here and now. He's arguably the best pure passer in NFL history, and his knowledge of where the ball needs to go was the boost the Steelers needed to win the AFC North in underdog fashion. Even if the physical ability to get it there isn't quite what it was in his prime.
#best #orleans
For the sake of maintaining depth at every other position, the formula is clear. One starter. One backup. One third stringer who spends most weeks either inactive or dipping down to the practice squad.
The Steelers may be the next exception to the rule as they juggle their present interests in winning with their future interests of finding their next franchise guy.
Required Reading: Steelers preseason opener winners, losers: Debuting QBs shine vs Packers
Even a diminished Aaron Rodgers showed last season that he's the best available option for GM Omar Khan and coach Mike McCarthy in the here and now. He's arguably the best pure passer in NFL history, and his knowledge of where the ball needs to go was the boost the Steelers needed to win the AFC North in underdog fashion. Even if the physical ability to get it there isn't quite what it was in his prime.
#best #orleans
3 months ago
Who could have seen this coming? (Everyone.)
Just days after Taysom Hill announced he won't be returning to the New Orleans Saints this season, Denver Broncos coach Sean Payton told Cynthia Frelund and Steve Wyche of NFL Network that Denver will "explore bringing in" Hill.
Payton was coaching the Saints in 2017 when the Green Bay Packers waived Hill, who was a rookie quarterback at the time. Payton decided to claim him off waivers after watching film of another Packers player.
"I was looking at Max McCaffrey at Green Bay — it was midnight — for a practice squad [spot], and I kept noticing this No. 7 at quarterback," Payton recalled in 2024. "We got more tape, and it was Taysom Hill. There was a play where he scrambled 43 yards for a touchdown. If you watched it, when he got to the end zone, the whole bench emptied ... I called [Jeff] Ireland in, and I said, 'What do you see here? Well, you see a fast quarterback, but then watch what happens afterwards.' So we claimed him at the 11 spot."
Hill went on to total 2,583 rushing yards, 2,417 passing yards, 1,107 receiving yards, 489 kick return yards, 34 touchdown runs, 13 touchdown catches, 12 touchdown passes, 18 special teams tackles, two blocked punts and one special teams recovery as a do-it-all weapon in New Orleans. He also went 7-2 as a fill-in starter at quarterback, but played primarily as a tight end in more recent seasons.
#yards
Just days after Taysom Hill announced he won't be returning to the New Orleans Saints this season, Denver Broncos coach Sean Payton told Cynthia Frelund and Steve Wyche of NFL Network that Denver will "explore bringing in" Hill.
Payton was coaching the Saints in 2017 when the Green Bay Packers waived Hill, who was a rookie quarterback at the time. Payton decided to claim him off waivers after watching film of another Packers player.
"I was looking at Max McCaffrey at Green Bay — it was midnight — for a practice squad [spot], and I kept noticing this No. 7 at quarterback," Payton recalled in 2024. "We got more tape, and it was Taysom Hill. There was a play where he scrambled 43 yards for a touchdown. If you watched it, when he got to the end zone, the whole bench emptied ... I called [Jeff] Ireland in, and I said, 'What do you see here? Well, you see a fast quarterback, but then watch what happens afterwards.' So we claimed him at the 11 spot."
Hill went on to total 2,583 rushing yards, 2,417 passing yards, 1,107 receiving yards, 489 kick return yards, 34 touchdown runs, 13 touchdown catches, 12 touchdown passes, 18 special teams tackles, two blocked punts and one special teams recovery as a do-it-all weapon in New Orleans. He also went 7-2 as a fill-in starter at quarterback, but played primarily as a tight end in more recent seasons.
#yards
3 months ago
Could Hill be on his way to the mountains?
Taysom Hill, fantasy football favorite and former New Orleans Saints everyman, announced he wouldn't be returning to the "Big Easy" earlier in the week, leaving the soon-to-be 36-year-old without an NFL home for the first time since 2017.
Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton, though, may leave the key under the mat for Hill. Hill developed a reputation of being a Swiss army knife player under Payton's coaching between 2017 and 2021, becoming a versatile weapon in Payton's scheme (and a league-winner in some fantasy football circles).
Payton said on Aug. 1 that he'd consider bringing Hill in if the circumstances are right, adding that he'll likely see Hill at Drew Brees' Hall of Fame enshrinement this coming week.
#week #taysom #saints
Taysom Hill, fantasy football favorite and former New Orleans Saints everyman, announced he wouldn't be returning to the "Big Easy" earlier in the week, leaving the soon-to-be 36-year-old without an NFL home for the first time since 2017.
Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton, though, may leave the key under the mat for Hill. Hill developed a reputation of being a Swiss army knife player under Payton's coaching between 2017 and 2021, becoming a versatile weapon in Payton's scheme (and a league-winner in some fantasy football circles).
Payton said on Aug. 1 that he'd consider bringing Hill in if the circumstances are right, adding that he'll likely see Hill at Drew Brees' Hall of Fame enshrinement this coming week.
#week #taysom #saints
3 months ago
Taysom Hill won't be back with the Saints in 2026, but the versatile tight end could wind up reuniting with a former coach.
Broncos head coach Sean Payton told Steve Wyche and Cynthia Frelund of NFL Media that the team will explore bringing in Hill.
Hill saw his first NFL action while playing for Payton in New Orleans in 2017 and would go on to see time as a tight end, quarterback, kick returner and various other offensive roles during their time together. Hill remained with the Saints after Payton left following the 2021 season, but said last week that "returning to New Orleans is not in the cards" this year.
Given the history between Hill and Payton, the Broncos were seen as a possible next stop for Hill and that possibility feels a little more likely with the team set to consider the move.
#Broncos
Broncos head coach Sean Payton told Steve Wyche and Cynthia Frelund of NFL Media that the team will explore bringing in Hill.
Hill saw his first NFL action while playing for Payton in New Orleans in 2017 and would go on to see time as a tight end, quarterback, kick returner and various other offensive roles during their time together. Hill remained with the Saints after Payton left following the 2021 season, but said last week that "returning to New Orleans is not in the cards" this year.
Given the history between Hill and Payton, the Broncos were seen as a possible next stop for Hill and that possibility feels a little more likely with the team set to consider the move.
#Broncos
3 months ago
Taysom Hill may be done playing football for New Orleans, but his on-the-field performance and his off-the-field persona have earned him Sainthood among the Who Dats for years to come.
"He's the guy that a lot of our guys can look to as an example of growing in the NFL and finding roles and finding opportunities," said Saints coach Kellen Moore after Hill announced his nine-year run in New Orleans was over. "Everyone, for the last few years, has been chasing to find the next Taysom. But there really is just one Taysom."
That "one Taysom" was going to be Jim Harbaugh's Swiss army knife quarterback at Stanford prior to Hill's two-year church mission to Sydney, Australia. When the 49ers lured Harbaugh away, Hill redirected his post-mission plans to Provo.
BYU figured it had someone special, but it wasn't until Sept. 7, 2013, that the Cougars knew for sure. Facing No. 15 Texas and following a two-hour weather delay, Hill produced one of the single greatest performances in program history.
BYU quarterback Taysom Hill (4) runs away from Texas linebacker Steve Edmond (33) Saturday, Sept. 7, 2013, at LaVell Edwards stadium. BYU won 40-21. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
#taysom #texas #finding
"He's the guy that a lot of our guys can look to as an example of growing in the NFL and finding roles and finding opportunities," said Saints coach Kellen Moore after Hill announced his nine-year run in New Orleans was over. "Everyone, for the last few years, has been chasing to find the next Taysom. But there really is just one Taysom."
That "one Taysom" was going to be Jim Harbaugh's Swiss army knife quarterback at Stanford prior to Hill's two-year church mission to Sydney, Australia. When the 49ers lured Harbaugh away, Hill redirected his post-mission plans to Provo.
BYU figured it had someone special, but it wasn't until Sept. 7, 2013, that the Cougars knew for sure. Facing No. 15 Texas and following a two-hour weather delay, Hill produced one of the single greatest performances in program history.
BYU quarterback Taysom Hill (4) runs away from Texas linebacker Steve Edmond (33) Saturday, Sept. 7, 2013, at LaVell Edwards stadium. BYU won 40-21. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
#taysom #texas #finding
3 months ago
It's been a big week for the New Orleans Saints at the start of their 2026 training camp. Between Taysom Hill saying thank you to New Orleans as he considers his next step, Bryan Bresee suffering a potentially season-ending knee injury, and Chris Olave agreeing to terms on a $132 million contract extension, there's been a lot to keep up with. And Drew Brees is going into the Pro Football Hall of Fame next week, too. But right now we're focusing on Olave's new contract. Thanks to some reporting from NewOrleans.Football's Nick Underhill on the structure of the deal, we can estimate just how much it'll cost the Saints against the salary cap.
Olave was set to play on his fully-guaranteed fifth-year option of $15.493 million, but that money appears to have been spread out as part of the deal. Underhill reports that Olave's base salary is now $1.29 million, a little more than the veteran's minimum, and a steep drop from that $15.493 million figure. Combine that with the proration from his $35 million signing bonus and you've got a 2026 salary cap hit of about $8.29 million. That saves the Saints $7.2 million against this year's cap, putting them under the spending limit by more than $13.5 million. They can use that extra money to sign a veteran to replace Bresee, upgrade another position group, or just churn the depth chart and cover in-season moves.
Here are Olave's other salary cap hit estimates under this new contract:
2026: $8.29 million ($1.29 million base salary and $7 million SB proration guaranteed)
2027: $20.6 million ($13.6 million base salary and $7 million SB proration guaranteed)
#orleans #bresee #olave
Olave was set to play on his fully-guaranteed fifth-year option of $15.493 million, but that money appears to have been spread out as part of the deal. Underhill reports that Olave's base salary is now $1.29 million, a little more than the veteran's minimum, and a steep drop from that $15.493 million figure. Combine that with the proration from his $35 million signing bonus and you've got a 2026 salary cap hit of about $8.29 million. That saves the Saints $7.2 million against this year's cap, putting them under the spending limit by more than $13.5 million. They can use that extra money to sign a veteran to replace Bresee, upgrade another position group, or just churn the depth chart and cover in-season moves.
Here are Olave's other salary cap hit estimates under this new contract:
2026: $8.29 million ($1.29 million base salary and $7 million SB proration guaranteed)
2027: $20.6 million ($13.6 million base salary and $7 million SB proration guaranteed)
#orleans #bresee #olave
3 months ago
A New Orleans Saints fan favorite is heading elsewhere. Taysom Hill, the do-it-all athlete who played everything from quarterback to special teams, announced Wednesday night he's leaving the Saints after nine seasons.
Hill developed into one of the NFL's most exciting and unique players under longtime Saints coach Sean Payton, making starts at quarterback, tight end and fullback while also playing snaps at wide receiver and running back. He finishes his Saints career 7-2 as a starting QB, and over 118 games he recorded 2,426 and 12 touchdowns passing plus 3,585 yards and 45 touchdowns rushing and receiving.
Kellen Moore took over the Saints in 2025 and Hill's role diminished significantly, so this move doesn't come at a complete shock.
In a statement shared on social media, Hill thanked New Orleans for its support and said he's "still working through what comes next" in regard to his career.
"I had always heard, 'If you love New Orleans, New Orleans will love you back,'" Hill's statement read. "That could not have been more true. You exceeded every expectation I had of what it would be like to live and play in a city. The passion, loyalty, and support you showed my family and me over these nine seasons were truly one of a kind."
#orleans #nine
Hill developed into one of the NFL's most exciting and unique players under longtime Saints coach Sean Payton, making starts at quarterback, tight end and fullback while also playing snaps at wide receiver and running back. He finishes his Saints career 7-2 as a starting QB, and over 118 games he recorded 2,426 and 12 touchdowns passing plus 3,585 yards and 45 touchdowns rushing and receiving.
Kellen Moore took over the Saints in 2025 and Hill's role diminished significantly, so this move doesn't come at a complete shock.
In a statement shared on social media, Hill thanked New Orleans for its support and said he's "still working through what comes next" in regard to his career.
"I had always heard, 'If you love New Orleans, New Orleans will love you back,'" Hill's statement read. "That could not have been more true. You exceeded every expectation I had of what it would be like to live and play in a city. The passion, loyalty, and support you showed my family and me over these nine seasons were truly one of a kind."
#orleans #nine
3 months ago
We knew Taysom Hill could run and pass, but he proved he could catch on this 45-yard touchdown reception against the Carolina Panthers. That's an easy choice for our New Orleans Saints Play of the Day.
Hill may have scored on this play, but it was Drew Brees' day to remind everyone just how lethal he could be so late in his career. The future Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback cruised to 253 yards and three touchdowns on the afternoon, going 19-of-30 and completing passes to eight different players.
With that said, this play was all Hill's doing. The versatile playmaker ran a crossing route and lost the defender trailing him to get wide open short of the first down marker -- then he cut upfield to pick up 20 yards. A timely block by his teammate Tre'Quan Smith cleared a lane to get Hill to the 5-yard line before the Panthers defense closed in, but he fought through tackles by Tre Boston and Jermaine Carter Jr. for the score. Watch it for yourself right here.
This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: Taysom Hill's 45-yard touchdown catch is the Saints Play of the Day
#hill #yard
Hill may have scored on this play, but it was Drew Brees' day to remind everyone just how lethal he could be so late in his career. The future Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback cruised to 253 yards and three touchdowns on the afternoon, going 19-of-30 and completing passes to eight different players.
With that said, this play was all Hill's doing. The versatile playmaker ran a crossing route and lost the defender trailing him to get wide open short of the first down marker -- then he cut upfield to pick up 20 yards. A timely block by his teammate Tre'Quan Smith cleared a lane to get Hill to the 5-yard line before the Panthers defense closed in, but he fought through tackles by Tre Boston and Jermaine Carter Jr. for the score. Watch it for yourself right here.
This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: Taysom Hill's 45-yard touchdown catch is the Saints Play of the Day
#hill #yard
