Saints kept two tight ends because of do-it-all QB Taysom Hill

The New Orleans Saints, in a few surprising moves, cut both Dan Arnold and Alize Mack, and it has everything to do with Taysom Hill.

It’s unusual to see two tight ends on a 53-man roster, but that’s what the New Orleans Saints opted to go with as the deadline loomed. They didn’t retain only Jared Cook and Josh Hill without a third option in mind.

Per NOLA.com’s Amie Just, Payton talked about the impact of Taysom Hill on the decision to carry just two tight ends forward into Week 1.

“But on Monday, Payton said there’s a reason for that. The Saints have a hidden tight end on the roster in jack-of-all-trades athlete Taysom Hill,” Just said.

Just also gave us a little insight into exactly what head coach Sean Payton said about Hill and his versatility.

"“It’s not a set in stone spot right now relative to where we’re adding,” Payton said. “And I would say we feel confident in the two we kept, and then also Taysom’s ability to play in that in that position.”"

Is he the next Steve Young or is he the next great tight end/running back/wide receiver? Well, we’ll known in a few years, but for now, Hill continues to impact the team’s roster decisions even as a quarterback.

Hill was impressive as a quarterback in the team’s preseason outings.

In Week 2, Hill ran twice for over 50 yards to go along with 136 through the air, tacking on two touchdowns as well. This was, by far, his best performance. After the four games, Hill ended with 443 passing yards, three touchdowns and one interception.

Overall, Hill had his ups and downs but so did fellow backup quarterback Teddy Bridgewater. Although we’d need to see Drew Brees get hurt before one of them permanently steps in, we don’t necessarily known how the depth chart is stacking up behind Brees.

Hill is a quarterback, but players like Dan Arnold, who is on the team’s practice squad, and Alize Mack, a rookie that also signed with the practice squad, were caught in the crossfire of Hill. Payton plans to use him as a do-it-all, Swiss Army knife threat.

I suppose that also means don’t be shocked to see Hill on the line or out wide this season as well as behind center.d