The rumor mill is stirring that long-time New Orleans Saints starting quarterback Drew Brees is seriously considering retirement. At 41 and with 18 years in the NFL, fans could have very well seen the last season for Brees, and the Saints are at the helm of a delicate situation. Both Taysom Hill and Teddy Bridgewater are both hitting the free-agent realm soon. With Drew Brees possibly hanging up his cleats, everyone else is considering the obvious: Can Taysom Hill be the next starting quarterback?
Taysom Hill: Worthy of Consideration?
My strong opinion is that Hiss has shown New Orleans he is a good catch as a quarterback and shouldn’t be invalidated at all.
Hill isn’t a stranger to the quarterback position. He was the starting quarterback at BYU during his sophomore year. I am actually convinced his college career as a starting quarterback could have been better if it wasn’t for his season-ending injuries.
Once he joined the Saints, it was only a matter a time before he would receive any attention for the player that he is. During his second season, fans started to see more from Hill. Sean Payton was already using him on special teams but we saw him as a returner, tight end, and receiver that year.
Currently, Hill is still being used interchangeably on special teams and offense. In my opinion, Hill’s most memorable moments this season has been on offense in the quarterback setting.
We can particularly recall the last playoff game the Saints had against the Minnesota Vikings. It seemed as though the Saints had a tough time getting in motion but Hill seemed to be amped up. His greatest stretch of the game would be the 50-yard pass to Deonte Harris. Hill ended with 50 yards rushing, 50 yards passing, and 25 yards receiving.
Free Agency Option
This off-season, Hill will become a restricted free agent. This means he has played three seasons or less. I imagine the Saints are waiting to hear whether Brees is going to stay or retire. Then, they will make a decision about Hill or Bridgewater.
Hill has been interviewed and CBS Sports HQ reported that he only sees himself as one position: quarterback. There’s plenty of debate going around whether Hiss is starting quarterback potential and whether the Saints should pick Bridgewater over Hill.
Listen, there are a few factors to think about. For starters, Brees’ time with the Saints is limited. It’s sad but true. While Brees can still move well and pass great on the field, his age is still a factor. The Saints need to start thinking about successors and who they want to give the keys to the kingdom.
I think Bridgewater makes a compelling argument in consideration. Everyone looks at the fact the team went 5-0 with him as a starter. However, Hill has been working in plenty of positions for the Saints and has shined in both. For a quarterback, he shows that he can rush as well as pass. The Saints will benefit in having a mobile quarterback with speed. Also, Hill has more playing time which means he understands the system the Saints have in motion already. This means fewer changes.
Can Taysom Hill be the next starting quarterback? Yes, he’s more than capable. While I think it’s possible for him to leave the organization, I think it mostly relies on the Saints. I believe the Swiss army knife will be happy at just playing football.
