Let’s be real. If there is one player in the NFL who feels like he was literally lab-grown in a petri dish specifically for Sean Payton, it is Taysom Hill. You’ve seen the highlights. One play he is lining up at tight end, the next he’s taking a direct snap for a 40-yard gain, and five minutes later he’s covering a punt like his life depends on it. Honestly, it’s kind of a miracle the guy hasn't been traded to the Denver Broncos already.
The taysom hill broncos trade projection isn’t just some bored beat writer’s fever dream. It’s a move that makes almost too much sense. We are looking at a Saints team that is, perennially, in what cap experts lovingly refer to as "salary cap hell." For 2026, New Orleans is already staring down a deficit of over $23 million in effective cap space. Meanwhile, Sean Payton is in Denver trying to build a culture out of thin air with Bo Nix, and he’s missing his favorite "Joker" piece.
Why the Saints Might Actually Pull the Trigger
Look at the numbers. They aren't pretty for the folks down in the Big Easy. Hill is 34—turning 35 before the 2025 season really gets rolling—and he’s coming off a brutal ACL tear suffered late in 2024. Despite the injury, his 2025 cap hit is scheduled to be a massive $14.2 million. If the Saints trade him after June 1, they could save roughly $7.7 million in 2026 cap space.
Basically, the Saints are at a crossroads. They have a new offensive coordinator in Kellen Moore who, while creative, didn't build his entire career around a 230-pound Mormon "tight end" who throws 50-yard bombs. The Saints need draft capital. They need to get younger. And let's be honest, they need to stop paying $10 million a year to a guy who is essentially the world's most expensive Swiss Army knife.
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The Sean Payton Factor
Payton’s love for Hill is the worst-kept secret in professional sports. He once compared him to Steve Young. People laughed, but Payton was dead serious. In Denver, the offense has lacked that "X-factor" that keeps defensive coordinators up at 2:00 AM.
The Broncos' current tight end room? It’s fine. Adam Trautman is a reliable blocker, and Lucas Krull has had flashes, but nobody on that roster forces a linebacker to hesitate the way Hill does. If the Broncos could snag Hill for a late-round pick—we’re talking a 2026 6th or 7th rounder—Payton would likely sprint to the fax machine himself.
Breaking Down the Taysom Hill Broncos Trade Projection
If this happens, it probably won't be a blockbuster. It’s a veteran move for a team that thinks they are one or two "weird" plays away from a deep playoff run.
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- The Cost: A 2026 6th-round pick from Denver in exchange for Hill and potentially a 2027 7th-rounder from New Orleans.
- The Contract: Denver would likely ask Hill to restructure. No way they take on a double-digit cap hit for a 35-year-old coming off knee surgery.
- The Role: Hill becomes the ultimate safety net for Bo Nix. Imagine a 3rd-and-2 where the defense is keyed in on Nix, and suddenly Taysom is under center. It’s vintage Payton.
One thing people get wrong about Taysom is thinking he's just a "gadget" player. He’s not. In his last healthy stretch, he was averaging over 5 yards per carry. He has over 3,800 all-purpose yards and 55 touchdowns in his career. That isn't a fluke; it's a weapon.
The Risk for Denver
We have to talk about the knee. A torn ACL at 34 is no joke. Even though Hill returned for a few games in early 2025 and looked "fine," the explosive twitch that makes him dangerous is usually the first thing to go. Denver is already tight on cap space themselves, with big extensions for guys like Patrick Surtain II and Zach Allen starting to kick in.
Is it worth "wasting" $5-7 million on a player who might be one awkward tackle away from retirement? Probably. Because for Sean Payton, Hill isn't just a player. He's the key that unlocks the rest of the playbook.
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What This Means for Bo Nix
Having Taysom Hill in the building would be the best thing to happen to Bo Nix. Why? Because it takes the "short yardage" pressure off the young QB. Instead of Nix taking hits on power runs, you let the human bowling ball do it.
The taysom hill broncos trade projection also adds a layer of veteran leadership that Payton values. Hill knows this system better than anyone. He could essentially be a coach on the field for a Denver offense that is still trying to find its permanent identity.
Final Verdict on the Trade
The Saints need to rebuild. The Broncos need a spark. It’s a match made in NFL heaven—or at least in a very specific part of Louisiana and Colorado.
Expect the rumors to heat up as we approach the 2025 trade deadline or even early in the 2026 offseason. If New Orleans continues to struggle under the weight of their own contracts, moving Hill to his "biggest fan" in Denver is the most logical exit strategy for everyone involved.
To keep a pulse on this, you should keep a close eye on the Saints' post-June 1 transaction wire. If they haven't moved him by then, the price for Denver might actually go down as the Saints get more desperate to clear their books for the 2026 league year. Monitor the Broncos' "Joker" position usage in the first few weeks of the season—if Payton is still trying to force-feed targets to backup tight ends, he’s likely already on the phone with Mickey Loomis.