Report: Saints' Hill inks 4-year deal worth $40M-$95M depending on position
The New Orleans Saints signed quarterback Taysom Hill to a unique, hybrid four-year contract extension that could pay him anywhere between $40 million and $95 million depending on the position he plays, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.
Hill will reportedly receive $40 million for the do-it-all weapon role he currently occupies and up to an additional $55 million if he becomes New Orleans' full-time starting quarterback. He's also guaranteed $22.5 million, added Schefter.
The Saints gave Hill a voidable four-year, $140-million extension in March to create short-term salary-cap savings. The signal-caller's deal was set to automatically expire after this year, making him a free agent.
New Orleans would have been on the hook for an $8.9-million dead-cap hit in 2022 on his previous extension, per Spotrac. His new contract dodges that dead-money hit.
Translation: The Saints didn’t want to take an automatic $8.9M dead cap hit when Hill’s current contract automatically voided, so they extend him to essentially two more years of his current pay to keep the active & dead cap spread out, while keeping a valuable player in tow. https://t.co/LMTe2kMPm2
— Spotrac (@spotrac) November 22, 2021
Hill entered the 2021 campaign battling Jameis Winston for New Orleans' starting quarterback job. However, Winston emerged victorious while Hill resorted to his usual hybrid role under head coach Sean Payton.
The Saints have also turned to Trevor Siemian under center since Winston went down with a season-ending ACL injury in Week 8.
Hill has attempted eight passes this campaign, completing seven of them and throwing an interception on his lone incompletion. He's also added 104 yards and three touchdowns on the ground, as well as 52 receiving yards.