dpJuly 29, 2026, 10:40 a.m. CT
If there was still any doubt about whether Taysom Hill could return to the New Orleans Saints in 2026, the team reassigning his jersey number might end it. On Wednesday, a new player was wearing the No. 7 jersey on the Ochsner Sports Performance Center practice field for the first time since 2016: Hunter Dekkers, a backup quarterback who re-signed after trying his hand in the UFL this spring.
Dekkers wore No. 18 last season after signing with the Saints as an undrafted free agent, but that number was picked up by wide receiver Bryce Lance, a fourth-round pick in this year’s draft. With few options available to him and both the Nos. 8 and 9 unavailable — they’ve been unofficially retired in respect to Archie Manning and Drew Brees — Dekkers had to take up Hill’s jersey.
Hill’s time in New Orleans is likely over, but he may not be finished in the NFL just yet. The Denver Post predicted that he’ll sign with Sean Payton’s Broncos at some point this season. Between listing his Metairie home for sale and moving his family to Utah, it sure looks like his future lies out west. Dekkers is buried on the depth chart behind Tyler Shough and veteran backups Spencer Rattler and Zach Wilson, but he’ll do his best to do the No. 7 justice.
