The Saints may have a long-term plan that includes a Drew Brees-to-Taysom Hill baton pass. This may leave Teddy Bridgewater out of the equation.
Bridgewater turned down a chance to become the Dolphins starter last year, instead re-signing with the Saints on a one-year deal worth $7.25MM. The former first-round pick again is free agency-bound, but Sean Payton does not appear to envision another year with the Brees-Bridgewater-Hill troika together. The 14-year Saints coach said it is “unrealistic” to bring all three back, per Mike Triplett of ESPN.com (on Twitter).
Although Bridgewater helped the Saints to a 5-0 mark as a starter while Brees recovered from injury, the 27-year-old passer may be closer to one of the free agency dominoes than set for another year as Brees’ backup. The priority appears to be Hill, who is a restricted free agent.
If Brees comes back to start a possible multiyear transition to Hill, the Saints are expected to place a first-round RFA tender on the latter, Jeremy Fowler and Dan Graziano of ESPN note. The 2019 first-round tender price was $4.4MM.
It would represent a remarkable rise for the ex-UDFA to receive the rare first-round tender, and it may remain a slight stretch to envision Hill becoming a surefire quarterback option. The unique passing-rushing-receiving weapon has only thrown 13 career passes. The prospect of a 2021 Brees-to-Hill transition makes more sense because sources informed Fowler and Graziano that Hill may not be ready to handle being New Orleans’ starter in 2020. This would shift the focus to Brees, whose retirement talk is believed to be genuine.
A BYU alum, Hill will turn 30 before Week 1 of next season. Brees recently turned 41. Brees has said he is not going anywhere else; the future first-ballot Hall of Famer will play for the Saints in 2020 or retire.
Wait this gimmick guy is going to be their starting Qb? He’s 30.
They can’t have all three quarterbacks because apparently now breeze could care less about the future of the franchise and is going to want to be the highest paid quarterback in the league and at 35-40 a year they would not have the money to bring back Bridgewater.
Brees** sigh…
Wrong
This makes no sense for the Saints. I can understand moving on from Brees, but to have a multi year plan to ‘pass the baton’ to Hill is ludicrous. Hill is unproven as a starter. Is 31, and more of a change of pace player. So lets have a 2 year plan in effect and have Hill take over when he’s 33 years old and then what? Maybe get 3 years out of him while you look to ‘pass the baton’ to another QB? How about keep Bridgewater, let Brees walk and keep Hill as the backup/ multi position weapon?
Stupid plan.
My gfs family are die hard saints fans. Watched a lot of saints football dont see hill as a long qb more of jack of all trades type. Brees will sign a 3 year extension for his final contract giving saints time to find the next wave.
As a die-hard Saints fan, the idea of Hill being the heir apparent to Brees is not settling well
Anybody know what Brees and Payton are doing for the Super Bowl; since karma keeps kicking Payton in the twins after his year long unplanned vacation?