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The New Orleans Saints said goodbye to tight end Benjamin Watson after announcing his retirement this offseason. As a result, tight end Josh Hill could be poised for a heavier workload next year.
Watson's departure will leave a notable void in the passing game. According to Josh Katzenstein of The Times-Picayune, the Saints are hoping Hill can fill it.
“I expect Josh Hill to be the No. 1 TE next year”
The prospect of Hill being the starting tight end moving forward may not sit well with most fans. He has had ample time to claim an integral role in the offense after signing with New Orleans as an undrafted free agent in 2013. Unfortunately, he has yet to stake his claim as the clear-cut starter after registering 799 yards and 11 touchdowns on 83 catches thus far in his career.
Hill has largely served as the Saints' go-to option in the run game. This was especially prevalent over the last two seasons after New Orleans became one of the best rushing teams in the league thanks to their Pro Bowl-caliber backfield of Alvin Kamara and Mark Ingram. As a result, he finished the 2018 campaign with just 16 receptions for 185 yards and a touchdown.
Despite his modest production, Hill has still been able to make quite the impression in New Orleans. This is evidenced by the three-year, $8.85 million extension he signed back in December. The Saints really have no choice but to move forward with Hill as the starter. It will be interesting to see how well he performs with his workload expected to increase.
