With Luke Johnson If you will, let's take a break from the 2021 Saints season and take a look at the future. Something tells me you might be into that right about now. The Saints and Taysom Hill might've just agreed to a four-year extension that will pay him $40 million with $22.5 million guaranteed the next four years. Or they might've just agreed to a deal that will pay Hill $95 million in the same span of time. It all depends on what happens. It's the second straight time the Saints worked with Hill to sign him to an extension that was potentially beneficial for both parties. Last time he was set to hit free agency, and the Saints rewarded him nicely ($21 million over two years) to prevent him from hitting the market while also allowing him an exit if there was no clear route to him claiming a starting quarterback job. This time, there was an additional layer of flexibility weaved in. Hill, of course, did not earn the starter's job when given an opportunity this past offseason, but after Jameis Winston tore his ACL a few weeks ago, there's no guarantees he'll be back on the 2022 team. Perhaps Hill gets another crack at it, and if he wins the job, he'll be a much richer man in the future. And if he doesn't? He's still making $10 million a year for a team that has proven it is committed to putting him on the field if he's not the starting quarterback. Another win-win proposition for Hill — it just remains to be seen if the deal is remembered fondly by the Saints down the road. At least it provides some immediate relief: Hill's contract was set to void in 2022, which would've put the Saints on the hook for an $8.9 million salary cap hit regardless of where he played. By working out an extension now, the Saints can spread that hit over the course of the deal. With a game on the horizon Thursday, Hill's new contract wasn't the only Saints news. The Saints gave the players a day off Monday, but with game day only a few days away, they released an estimated injury report as if they did practice. Alvin Kamara, once again, was on it. Tight end Adam Trautman was also on that list, and an ESPN report revealed that he likely will be for some time. The second-year tight end received some bad news after what was the best game of his young career in Philadelphia. And, if you're a glutton for punishment, you can pore over Amie Just's weekly snap counts analysis to get a sense of who was on the field most for the rough loss that dropped the Saints to 5-5. And, if you love a good deal, we have one for you here in the Saints newsletter this week. Our best Black Friday special is happening now. For a limited time, a yearly subscription to local journalism that matters is only $1.73/week. Click here to subscribe. That's it for now, thanks as always for your support. Luke | 