Taysom Hill is perhaps the most beloved athlete in New Orleans, both by fans and the New Orleans Saints coaching staff. While football fans might have to wait another year for him to become the starting quarterback, we could see even more from Hill next season.
The Saints have had big plans for Hill ever since he joined the team. The 29-year-old’s mix of versatility, athleticism and passing skills made him the Swiss Army Knife of Sean Payton’s team. While the Saints enjoyed using Hill this past year, Payton is reportedly ready to unleash him even more this upcoming season.
According to Larry Holder of The Athletic, Hill could be headed for an ‘uptick’ in snaps this season. New Orleans made a $21 million investment in its backup quarterback and the team might have some big plans in 2020.
During the 2019 season, Hill played 241 snaps on offense and 287 snaps on special teams. While it might have seemed like he was constantly on the field, New Orleans only used him for 23% of its offensive snaps this past year. Despite the limited playing time, he still racked up 156 rushing yards, 234 receiving yards and seven total touchdowns.
We haven’t seen Hill throw the football much in recent seasons. He has attempted only 13 passes in 37 games, completing 46.2% of those attempts for 119 yards with one interception. However, per The Athletic, he has made noticeable improvements as a passer in recent years.
The Saints will obviously still keep Drew Brees as their starting quarterback and the offense is far better when he is under center. But it’s clear that Payton wants to put the ball in Hill’s hands even more next season. Given Hill’s unique skills and the creativity displayed in this offense, we’re expecting even more highlights from the Saints in 2020.