Payton says Broncos will explore bringing in Taysom Hill

After years of hype, this one finally has legs.

Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton confirmed Saturday to NFL Network’s Steve Wyche and Cynthia Frelund that Denver will explore signing free agent tight end Taysom Hill — the do-everything weapon Payton built from scratch during their time together in New Orleans.

Hill hit the open market just days ago after announcing his nine-year run with the Saints was over.

“I still don’t have a clear answer about what the future holds,” Hill wrote Wednesday on the first day of Saints training camp, “but I know that returning to New Orleans is not in the cards.”

Denver Sports has been tracking this story for over a year now. We floated the Hill-Payton reunion last offseason. ESPN’s Bill Barnwell drew up a trade proposal during the 2025 season. The Denver Post flat-out predicted it earlier this month. And now Payton himself is confirming the interest exists.

So what would Hill bring to Dove Valley at this point?

The résumé is unlike anything the league has ever seen — the only player in the Super Bowl era with 1,000-plus career passing, rushing and receiving yards. More than 5,500 yards from scrimmage. Over 60 total touchdowns. At his peak running Payton’s Joker packages, Hill was one of the NFL’s most efficient offensive weapons, with a 58.5% career success rate that ranks 10th among 136 players with at least 350 total touches since 2018.

The reality check: Hill turns 36 later this month. He tore his ACL late in 2024, and while he gutted out 13 games in 2025, the numbers were ugly — 52 carries for 114 yards (2.2 per pop), 11 catches for 91 yards. A 3.3 yards-per-touch average that would’ve been unrecognizable in his prime.

But he flashed in the Saints’ home finale. Hill ran for 42 yards on 12 carries, hauled in four catches for 36 yards and slung a 38-yard touchdown pass to Chris Olave. There was something still in there from Hill.

The real question isn’t whether Payton wants Hill. He does — he just told two national reporters as much. It’s whether coordinator Davis Webb, who took over playcalling duties this offseason, schemes for a 36-year-old Joker the same way Payton did. Payton isn’t calling plays anymore. Webb may not want to force a gadget player into a system that wasn’t built for one just because the boss has a soft spot.

Then again — this is Payton. The man who signed Hill out of BYU as an undrafted free agent and turned him into a $40 million player. Payton loves his guys. And Taysom Hill is the guy.

At this stage, the cost is negligible. A veteran minimum deal, maybe an incentive-laden contract. And if Hill’s got even a little left — 10 to 15 snaps a game in short-yardage, red-zone and gadget looks — he could be the kind of wrinkle that separates Denver’s offense in January. The Broncos have been hunting for versatile tight end help for years.

Related

The Broncos have a real battle for backup quarterbackBroncos president admits ‘frustration’ as 2031 stadium timeline tightensBroncos hire the architect behind the Raiders’ stadium — the same firm designing the Chiefs’Bo Nix asked if he’ll take off less after ankle surgeries, ‘absolutely not’Is Broncos defensive lineman Zach Allen on track for the Hall of Fame?Sean Payton is confident that the Broncos can stay hungry