SALT LAKE CITY — Over the offseason, the New Orleans Saints showed just how serious of an investment they had in Taysom Hill when they signed him to a two-year, reported $21 contract extension.
Will Hill, who’s more known for his offensive and special teams versatility at the pro level than his passing, ultimately be the replacement for Drew Brees when the 41-year-old All-Pro retires?
It’s a topic rife with opinions, especially after the Saints also signed former Tampa Bay starter Jameis Winston as a backup for the 2020 season.
Now, CBS Sports writer Chris Trapasso developed another interesting scenario. What if a former Cougar is the heir apparent to Brees, just not Hill?
Trapasso released a 2021 NFL mock draft on Wednesday that included BYU junior quarterback Zach Wilson going to the Saints with the 27th overall pick in the first round.
“Who? Get to know Wilson, He’s played as well as any quarterback in the country to begin the season — he’s thrown only 11 incompletions in three games — and is only 21 years old. He’s showcased high-end scrambling ability, a big arm, and good downfield touch. The Saints swing for the fences here,” Trapasso wrote.
Wilson vs. Hill
Through three games in 2020, Wilson has completed 84.5% of his passes for 949 yards, six touchdowns and one interception while also rushing for 41 yards and five touchdowns. Earlier this week, ESPN draft expert Mel Kiper Jr. named Wilson, a product of Corner Canyon High, the No. 5 quarterback prospect in next year’s class, if he leaves a year early to enter the draft.
Hill is in his fourth season with the Saints organization, where he’s mainly served as a utility man thus far in his career. He’s thrown just 16 career passes, though he’s now listed as the Saints’ backup this season after three seasons of being third string.
Wilson was the fifth quarterback taken in Trapasso’s mock draft, even though Trapasso listed him as the 60th best prospect in the class and the No. 8 quarterback. The quarterbacks that went before Wilson included Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence (No. 1 to New York Jets), Ohio State’s Justin Fields (No. 3, Washington Football Team), Florida’s Kyle Trask (No. 13, Las Vegas Raiders) and North Dakota State’s Trey Lance (No. 15, Chicago Bears).
Other Utah ties
Trapasso also has another Utah tie, former Desert Hills offensive tackle Penei Sewell, in his mock draft. Sewell, an All-American left tackle at Oregon who recently declared for the NFL draft, is headed to the New York Giants with the second overall pick in Trapasso’s mock.
“I’ve been staying away from offensive tackle for the Giants in my first few mocks of the season because they did triple up on offensive linemen in the 2020 draft. But Sewell is a rare prospect, and I don’t think Joe Judge will be ready to move on from Daniel Jones after the season,” Trapasso wrote.
Last year as a sophomore, Sewell won the Outland Trophy, given to the nation’s top interior lineman. In two seasons with the Ducks, Sewell gave up just one sack over 1,376 snaps.
Former Bingham High defensive tackle Jay Tufele, who like Sewell declared for the 2021 draft after three seasons at USC and is seen as a potential first-round pick, did not show up in Trapasso’s one-round mock draft.