Taysom Hill Views Himself As Franchise QB, Says He’ll Have To Leave If Saints Don’t

Taysom 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.”

The Saints currently do not have a quarterback under contract for the 2020 season. Drew Brees is still determining whether he’ll return and Teddy Bridgewater is an unrestricted free agent for the second straight year. 

Saints HC Sean Payton expects Hill to get an offer from another team this offseason, but indicated that they could use a first-round tender on him. 

“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 will be one of the most interesting restricted free agents in recent memory, given his diverse skillset and ability to play multiple positions. 

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.