New Orleans Saints: Taysom Hill knows he can’t replace Drew Brees

With Drew Brees retiring from the New Orleans Saints and the NFL this offseason, it’s up to Taysom Hill or Jameis Winston to be the next quarterback to try and lead the franchise to a Super Bowl.

Hill, who replaced Brees when he was injured last season, recently told Rod Walker of The New Orleans Advocate that he knows he knows there is no replacing Brees and what he’s been able to do as the Saints quarterback.

Hill said the following quote, which was provided by Kevin Patra of NFL.com:

"“He’s one of the greatest to ever do it. But I think as I got ready to enter the NFL, my goal and my mindset was to just do everything I can to have an opportunity to be a guy. Because there are only 32 starters in the NFL. So as I look forward into this year and training camp and OTAs and the season, I’m really just excited about having that opportunity. That has been the goal and the mindset since I was a rookie in 2017 first entering the NFL. So it’s definitely something that I’m not taking lightly and I’m going to give it everything I’ve got.”"

If Taysom Hill knows he can’t replace Drew Brees as the New Orleans Saints quarterback.

This is the right mindset for any quarterback. Drew Brees is a first-ballot future Hall of Fame quarterback for what he was able to do during his prestigious career in New Orleans. For Hill or Winston or anyone to expect those same expectations to be placed on them is ludicrous.

Hill did fine while filling in for Brees last year but once Brees was able to return to under center, there was no quarterback controversy whatsoever. He had the benefit of learning from one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time and now, he can take what he learned from Brees, but also make the position his own.

Hill is a much different quarterback to that of Brees too, as he’s a better runner and has been used as a swiss army knife in the Saints’ offense to this point. It’s because of this why I personally feel that Winston is the better option to have start. Hill is at his best when he can be used as that offensive weapon and with him at quarterback, it’s a little trickier to do that with him.

It won’t be easy for Hill to win the job over Winston but he did earn the job last year when Brees went out despite most people thinking it was Winston’s to lose. If Hill balls out this summer, the job could be his but he’s showing that he knows he can’t do what Brees does and has to make the position his own.

Hopefully, that eliminates some of the pressure on him.