Taysom Hill expects his 2023 season to go a different direction
The New Orleans Saints have one of the more unique weapons in the NFL in Taysom Hill. He's designated as a tight end, but Hill has played several different positions for the Saints as a utility player. Hill has completed 185 of his 287 (64.5%) career pass attempts for 2,265 yards and 10 touchdowns, and […]
The New Orleans Saints have one of the more unique weapons in the NFL in Taysom Hill. He's designated as a tight end, but Hill has played several different positions for the Saints as a utility player.
Hill has completed 185 of his 287 (64.5%) career pass attempts for 2,265 yards and 10 touchdowns, and he's also gained 1,758 yards on the ground on 317 carries (5.5 yards per rush) with 23 scores.
As he enters his seventh season, Hill is ready to get more action in another aspect.
"Maybe doing more as like a receiver. I think that's kind of stuff that hasn't been explored a ton with me here,' Hill said. "The throwing stuff as a quarterback, or running, that stuff we've been doing that for a long time, and that's come really natural for me.
"I think running routes and catching balls and stuff that was a foreign thing for me and I also think because of that we haven't done a ton of it. I think there's some opportunities there that we haven't explored yet."
Hill has caught 71.7% of his targets and scored nine receiving touchdowns in his career. However, nearly half of his 43 receptions (19) and over half of his 465 yards (234) came in 2019. Also, six of his receiving scores came that season.
With new quarterback Derek Carr and a two-headed attack at running back with Alvin Kamara and Jamaal Williams, plus a dose of rookie Kendre Miller, Hill probably won't be asked to throw or run as much in 2023.
"As I look at next season, I think the hope and the expectation is that that expands a little bit," said Hill. "I think the nice thing is I'm put in different situations I can go at and say 'Hey, If I was throwing the ball to me, I'm just going to do whatever I want the receiver to do if I was throwing it to him' so having that perspective I think has also helped me and maybe made that transition a little smoother."
Having a lot of weapons is a good "problem" that the Saints have, and Hill is the most dynamic of them all. So, it'll be interesting to see if he's used more in the passing game than he has been since he came into the NFL, and that could open things up for other guys on the Saints' offense as well.
Feature image via Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports
