Brady Poppinga: “Lamar Jackson is the poor man’s Taysom Hill. It’s not the other way around. That’s what we have in Taysom. That’s why the Saints aren’t messing around. He eventually will be taken care of.” (Full Audio at Bottom of Page)
Former NFL player Brady Poppinga, known most for his role as a starting linebacker for the Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers in 2011, had some eye-opening comments last Friday, as the eight-year NFL veteran called reigning MVP Lamar Jackson a ‘poor man’s Taysom Hill' on ESPN 960.
Jackson is coming off a historic season in which he led the NFL in passing touchdowns and QBR, and broke Michael Vick’s single-season record for rushing yards at the quarterback position.
Hill did emerge as a budding physical specimen for the New Orleans Saints this season, especially in the Saints’ narrow loss versus the Vikings in the Wild Card Round, in which he caught a 20-yard touchdown pass, and rushed for a highlight reel 28-yard run late in the game, but he’s attempted just 13 passes in two seasons as a pro, and was the third-string QB behind Drew Brees and Teddy Bridgewater last season.
Hill played in 31 games at quarterback for BYU from 2012-2016, throwing for 6,929 yards (223.5 yards per game), 43 touchdowns, and 31 interceptions.
On March 16th, the Saints placed a first-round restricted free agent tinder on Hill; who was the only restricted free agent to receive first-round tender. He will get paid $4.6 million in 2020 if no new deal is worked out, and the Saints will have the ability to match any offer sheet Hill receives to retain the player.
If another team attempts to sign Hill away from the Saints, they’ll have to surrender a first round pick.
Like Hill, Poppinga played at BYU from 2001-2005, before being drafted in the fourth round of the 2005 NFL Draft to Green Bay.
Audio at (18:12)