Saints coach Sean Payton spoke with The Ringer’s Kevin Clark Wednesday on the Slow News Day segment about a host of topics including backup quarterback Taysom Hill.
Clark asked Payton about the skepticism from national pundits about the former BYU standout and Payton offered high praise of Hill in his rebuttal.
“If Taysom Hill were available for a trade, how many suitors you think we’d have just as a football player?” He said. “I tell you we’d have 31.”
Hill went 3-1 this season in relief of starting quarterback Drew Brees, who was out with rib fractures and a collapsed lung. He completed 72. 7 percent of his passes for 928 yards and four touchdowns against two interceptions. He also broke New Orleans legend Archie Manning’s franchise record for rushing touchdowns in a season with eight. He also added 555 yards from scrimmage.
Payton said Hill’s versatility and his traits make him very valuable.
“He’s 6’2 and a half, he weighs 240 pounds and he can fly,” Payton said. “When I say fast, he’s one of the faster players on our team.
“So, if he never touched the ball at QB, and maybe the skepticism is more quarterback driven, there would be a linebacking position for him. There would be a strong safety position for him. There would be an F tight end position for him and I darnn sure want to make sure that there shouldn’t have been a quarterback position for him.”
Currently, Hill is the only quarterback committed to return next season as the Saints are waiting on a decision from Brees and backup Jameis Winston is set to become a free agent.
Payton however has made it no secret that the Saints would like to re-sign Winston.
