While the New Orleans Saints will have Drew Brees next season, the team is now prepared to make another major commitment to its quarterback of the future. The Saints reportedly plan to place the first-round tender on quarterback Taysom Hill, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
By applying the first-round tender to the playmaking quarterback, the Saints will owe him nearly $5 million next season if he doesn’t sign another deal. While another NFL team could provide Hill with an offer sheet, the Saints would have the right to match and would get a first-round pick back if the other team signs Hill.
While Hill would attract interest from across the NFL, front offices throughout the league will likely view sacrificing a top pick as excessive for a player who turns 30 next season. He has also only attempted 13 passes in his career and is largely unproven as a passer at the NFL level.
The Saints know how to use Hill, even when Brees is on the field, as we saw throughout the 2019 season. Given the organization’s plans to move on from Brees after 2020 and their strong belief in Hill, this level of commitment is understandable. Now we’ll have to see when the sides agree to a long-term extension to secure Hill’s future in New Orleans.