Saints Planning To Place First-Round Tender On QB Taysom Hill

March 6, 2020

Adam Schefter is reporting that the Saints are planning to place a first-round tender on restricted free agent QB Taysom Hill. According to Schefter, Saints still believe they will have a new contract in place for Hill before the start of free agency.

A first-round tender is projected to cost around $4.6 million for the 2020 season and ensures that they would get a first-round pick should they decline to match an offer sheet from another team.

This shouldn’t come as a big surprise, given that Saints HC Sean Payton indicated a few weeks ago that they could use a first-round tender on Hill. Payton did, however, say he expects Hill to get an offer from another team this offseason.

“I think someone is going to make him an offer,” Payton said via NBC Sports’ Peter King. “But the first thing the fan has to understand is . . . if we tender Taysom [at the first-round level], the team that makes the offer on him and signs him to an offer understands they’re going to give up a first-round pick if we don’t match. That’s easier to do if you’re pick 22, 23, 24, 25. We might very well see it if it’s a team in the second half of the [first round].”

Hill told Rob Maadi of the Associated Press during Super Bowl week that he views himself as a franchise quarterback in the NFL, but if the Saints don’t feel the same way, he’ll have to leave.

“I definitely view myself as a franchise quarterback,” Hill said, via Pro Football Talk.

“Do I want to leave?” Hill said. “The fact of the matter is no. But as you look at free agency, you have to find the right opportunity for you. You have to find the situation to take care of your family. I want to play quarterback in this league. If New Orleans don’t view me that why, well then I have to leave.”

Hill, 29, wound up signing on with the Packers as an undrafted free agent out of BYU back in 2017. He was waived and later claimed off of waivers by the Saints.

Hill has played out the final year of his rookie contract and is now in line to be a restricted free agent this offseason.

In 2019, Hill appeared in all 16 games for the Saints and completed 3 of 6 passes for 55 yards while rushing for 156 yards on 27 carries and one touchdown. He also caught 19 passes for 234 yards receiving and six touchdowns.