Quarterback Taysom Hill has agreed to a “unique four-year, hybrid…contract extension” with the Saints (Twitter link via Adam Schefter of ESPN.com). The deal could pay anywhere between $40MM and $95MM, depending on the position he plays over that span. But, regardless of how he’s used, the deal will furnish him with $22.5MM in guaranteed cash. 
Hill will earn $40MM in base salary if he continues in his gadget role. But, if he becomes the Saints’ starting quarterback for the next four years, he could net an additional $55MM, according to Schefter.
The deal is yet another stroke of cap wizardry from Saints GM Mickey Loomis, who already agreed to an entirely voidable four-year, $140MM re-up with Hill in March. We’re still awaiting word on how this latest deal impacts the previous one, but the new deal likely supersedes/replaces the last one. In short, Hill did not receive a true $140MM re-up this spring. Instead, his actual contract for this year includes a $9.7MM signing bonus, a $1.4MM guaranteed roster bonus, and $1.03MM in guaranteed base salary, plus incentives. All together, that’s a shade over $12MM for 2021.
Jason Fitzgerald of Over The Cap (Twitter link) suggests that the unique structure could be the result of lucrative incentives. For example, the deal could furnish Hill with a $500K bonus for every game he plays with upwards of 50% snaps at QB, plus another $500K bonus for every win. Still, the exact breakdown remains unclear.
Hill completed 72.7% of his passes last year for 928 yards, four touchdowns, and two interceptions. He went 3-1 while starting in Drew Brees‘ stead, showing a glimpse of his potential. Outside of the traditional QB stats, he finished 2020 with 555 yards from scrimmage and nine rushing and receiving touchdowns.
Through seven games this year, Hill has 20 carries for 104 yards and three rushing touchdowns, plus four grabs for 52 yards. As a QB, he’s completed 7-of-8 throws for 56 yards and one interception.
I am confused by these numbers.
Why does the cap, much like taxes have to be so complicated?
Talk about a confusing contract. Wonder how they’ll count his yearly cap to be. Only loomis could find a way to do this
It’s incentive based. So your year 2 cap number depends on your year 1 stats applied against the year 2 incentive thresholds. So he keeps a low cap number until he starts playing QB regularly, then the cap hit comes in the next year.
Cap Wizardy? To pay a side show that kind of $$$. Wow no wonder they haven’t won since 2010.
I was thinking the same thing. He should be a focus point package every game with targets, throws & runs = 15 plays. Example, 5 throws, 5 catches, 5 rushes. You don’t pay that kind of cash and not utilize him heavily.
What a joke the guy is not good enough to be a starting QB, RB, or WR. Instead of eating your mistake of signing a gadget player with no position for entirely too much money, You dig yourself deeper to help the cap for next season?
He’ll retire in 10 years and they’ll be like, “man we were just about to make you our QB.”
Why pay someone this much money when his market is only one team?
While I agree that the Saints are paying a lot (well, could potentially pay a lot), Hill has proven his value to New Orleans. If he does not start at QB (which we all know is likely the case), the Saints shouldn’t be out too much. I think that this is partially out of appreciation for doing all that Hill does, and for giving up a chance to try for a starting QB job elsewhere.
On Hill’s end, the relatively smaller number (for a QB) and lack of guarantees reflect his realization that he’s not likely to be a starting QB really. It’s an admission of value, and an admission of limitations. At the end of the day though, nobody is going to use Hill like Sean Payton, and most other players can’t do what Hill does with the same effectiveness.
How has he proven his value? Genuine question. He averages 3.4 touches per game and 21.7 yards per game (non-passes) in his career. He’s only thrown 4 TDs and they were in two games. He has as many career TD passes as Dave Meggett and only two more than Odell Beckham. Keith Byars has more career TD passes, ha.
Not as a QB, no, but as a player. New Orleans clearly values Hill-he gets snaps every game, plays multiple positions, and most importantly, Sean Payton includes him in his gameplan. Thing is, Hill doesn’t have to prove his value to us. He just needs to do it to his team. They’re the ones who decide to pay him.
At the end, though, this deal looks all incentive based. So the number looks big, which is because Hill’s officially a QB, but we all know (and Hill knows) that he won’t likely ever start there.
i dont get the contract or the infatuation with the player. get yourself a partner that likes you as much as NO likes Taysom Hill.
For real. He’s touched the ball 32 times the whole season and eight of them have been passes. No idea why the Saints continue to lavish him with enormous amounts of money, especially given their cap situation.
Why don’t they use this guy.
I can also catch, throw, and run the ball poorly. Who’s his agent?
A situational gimmick player for situations the Saints no longer find themselves in.
They need to just pick a position for this guy already. If they want to use him in his current gadget role, that’s cool. He’s good at it. If they want to make him their quarterback, sure. But just pick something.
I don’t get this. The guy will be 32 at start of next season. He’s the third string qb and is getting too old to be a gadget player. What do Saints see in him to pay millions of dollars? He would t even make the roster on most teams. They’d win more games over the course of the season if they took the money and paid for a healthy and reliable field goal kicker and a solid running back to fill in when Kamara gets banged up.
Should be fired for giving him the fake 140M contract to begin with
Can anyone explain to me why you’d pay a guaranteed 20mil for this guy? Does he have dirt on someone?
Everyone is confused. They don’t even use him.
I suppose the Saints will get a good return on the investment if Hill can sell beer at halftime and be a backup mascot on occasion.
He has to know some deep secrets about the owner,GM or coach
Loom is……
Wizard…… of ODDS!
The sideshow of the 3 ring Sean Peyton circus more important than winning games