I don't know if New York Giants head coach John Harbaugh is a Swiss Army Knife guy or not, but he sure seems to be a Swiss Army Knife player guy. He likes players who serve multiple purposes and can play multiple roles.
So when a guy like Taysom Hill becomes available, it is hard not to see an instant fit. The soon-to-be 36-year-old cut ties with the only franchise he has ever known on Wednesday -- the New Orleans Saints -- after spending the past nine years in The Big Easy.
While he is officially listed as a quarterback, the "Mormon Missile" has played just about every position imaginable. He has lined up at quarterback, running back, fullback, tight end, and receiver. He has even excelled on special teams as a gunner, kick returner, and punt protection specialist.
Like I said: Swiss Army Knife.
Taysom Hill's next chapter should be in New York
Hill posted his goodbye to Saints fans on social media with a heartfelt message, thanking Who Dat Nation and officially closing the only chapter he's ever known. But you know what they say about chapters: When one chapter closes, another one begins.
The former BYU superstar couldn't be a more perfect Harbaugh player if he tried. Now that he is officially on the open market, New York should go after him and see if they can't find a role for the jack-of-all-trades weapon throughout the rest of the summer.
There's a legitimate concern about how much value Hill actually has left in the tank as a gadget guy, but as a bottom-of-the-roster addition, he'd essentially take up one spot for a player who could play up to at least five different positions. That'd be like having 58 guys on the 53-man roster.
His career numbers aren't going to wow anyone, but they do suggest that he's a dynamic threat in almost every facet of the game, bringing the ultimate "what's going to happen" when he steps onto the field:
- Passing: 195-of-308 | 2,426 yards | 12 touchdowns | nine interceptions | 88.5 passer rating
- Rushing: 489 carries | 2,551 yards | 34 touchdowns | 5.2 yards per carry
- Receiving: 110 receptions | 1,034 yards | 11 touchdowns | 9.4 yards per reception
Imagine a red-zone scenario where it's short-and-goal and out of the huddle come Hill, Jaxson Dart, Patrick Ricard, Cam Skattebo, Isaiah Likely, and Theo Johnson. They could run the ball, throw the ball, both, run wildcat formation -- they could do just about anything you could imagine.
Since Harbs is a special-teams guy through and through, having a guy who has excelled in multiple roles in the third phase would be a bonus. He even has 20 career tackles, including one forced fumble and a tackle for loss(?!).
It goes further than just what he does on the field. He can also be an extension of the coaching staff, helping relay information in a more digestible format for the players who might need it. Consider him the perfect mentor for nearly half of the position groups.
Why not take a flyer on the guy and give him a shot at training camp? This is the dawn of a new era of Giants football; Harby and Co. have already leaned into that. Why not lean a little more? Positional versatility is like a drug for guys like Harbaugh.
Worst-case scenario is he fails to impress at camp --among the other 36 who won't -- and doesn't make the 53-man roster come August. Best-case scenario is he geeks out with his new head coach over being one of the most unorthodox chess pieces in the league. If Taysom Hill has one more chapter left, it’s hard to imagine a better author than John Harbaugh.
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