The Saints are heading into the season without one of the most familiar names on their roster, and Taysom Hill’s absence is going to ripple through more than one part of the team.
New Orleans spent the offseason trying to hold onto key pieces, and the front office did manage to keep leaders like Alvin Kamara and Cam Jordan. But the Saints also watched Alontae Taylor leave for the Tennessee Titans and Demario Davis go to the New York Jets. Hill, the veteran QB/TE/RB, could have been next on the list of returnees, but that move still hasn’t happened.
Given Hill’s recent injuries and the drop-off in his play, bringing him back would have come with real risk. His versatility has always been appealing, but the Saints tried to lean into that last season and it clearly hurt the offense. At this point, the team appears to be in line with that thinking and has shown no real interest in forcing the issue.
Even so, losing Hill changes things in a few different ways. From a roster standpoint, the Saints get a little more clarity.
Hill was always the kind of player who blurred the line between positions, and now New Orleans can actually assign one spot to one role. That may not sound dramatic, but it can matter.
There’s also the situational side of it. Kellen Moore’s approach in short-yardage moments was tied to Hill last season, especially when Hill was out and the Saints had to turn to other players to handle those snaps.
That didn’t happen consistently. When Hill returned, Moore’s focus shifted right back to him, and it never really paid off.
At times, it felt like Hill was pulling attention more than creating solutions. Without him, Moore will have to find another answer, and that could end up helping the offense.
Hill’s departure also leaves a hole in the tight end room. He brought veteran leadership there, and right now that group doesn’t really have the kind of established voice you’d want around a rookie like Oscar Delp.
Juwan Johnson could step into that role, and this is the right opening for him to show it. Whether that happens remains to be seen.
Even with the recent struggles, Hill was still a valuable teammate and a strong presence in the locker room. That part of his absence will be felt, too.
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