The 2023 head coaching cycle continues to unfold, and the most coveted candidate remains at the center of the latest developments. Sean Payton continues to stand out as the presumed favorite for the Broncos’ vacancy, but his schedule will not be limited to Denver this week. 
The former Saints head coach is set to meet with the Broncos in Denver for a second interview, as detailed by NOLA.com’s Jeff Duncan. That initial report was quickly met by others confirming that nothing firm has been scheduled for the Broncos and their coaching finalists as of yet, but in a follow-up, Duncan tweets that the 59-year-old will travel to Denver this Wednesday, suggesting he will interview that night or Thursday.
Payton – who is still under contract with the Saints, meaning a trade package must be agreed upon for him to take a new job elsewhere – has long been connected to Denver. After their Nathaniel Hackett hire resulted in a disastrous performance on offense in particular, the Broncos are expected to pivot to an experienced bench boss. Payton would certainly fit that bill, and bring a championship pedigree to the Mile High City.
It was reported last week that quarterback Russell Wilson spoke to Payton in an attempt to recruit him, something which would be helped by the Rob Walton-led ownership group comfortably being able to meet his salary demands (believed to in the $20-$25MM per year range). Duncan notes that, especially after the relative success of Payton’s first interview with the Broncos, interest between the two sides “appears to be mutual.”
In light of that, Denver7’s Troy Renck adds that Payton is widely believed to have the “inside track” for the Broncos’ position. As Renck notes, the Hackett hire was rushed by general manager George Paton last year in no small part by his looming Jaguars interview; taking a more methodical approach (including second interviews with a shortlist of finalists) has thus always been the intention of this year’s search committee.
Not long after New Orleans granted Denver permission to interview Payton, it was reported that the teams had at least a rough agreement in place on the trade compensation necessary to facilitate a move. Any package the Saints receive would include at least one – if not two – first-round picks, something which is particularly noteworthy in Denver’s case given the price they paid Seattle for Wilson last offseason. ESPN’s Jeff Legwold notes (on Twitter) that some around the league believe a package including the Broncos’ 2023 first-rounder (which will be no higher than 28th overall, given the 49ers’ win yesterday) along with one or both of their thirds would be necessary; Denver does not have a second-rounder this year.
Payton has, of course, drawn considerable interest from other teams as well. One of those is the Panthers, with whom he is expected to meet today. Another is the Cardinals, who were granted permission for an interview one week ago. Veteran Cardinals reporter Howard Balzer reports that Payton will meet with the team this Thursday (Twitter link). That news comes not long after Arizona confirmed the hiring of new general manager Monti Ossenfort, a move which widely expected to precede the arrival of a new bench boss.
It also, however, partially contradicts what had been reported above. In a follow-up, Balzer tweets that Payton’s Denver interview has been delayed, and that his meeting with the Cardinals will take place in Arizona. Between his sit-downs with the Panthers and Cardinals, along with interest shown by the Texans and, presumably, a second interview with Denver at some point, much remains to be determinized with respect to the biggest coaching domino on the current NFL landscape.
He’s going to Dallas
I think Jerry promised him a sniff but the Boys ruined the plan by making playoffs. Pretty hard to hook McCarthy after two 12-win seasons.
After Dallas crashed out last night, everyone on the tweeter wants McCarthy out and Payton in. The Pokes can trade Dak Prescott to dem Saints to get Payton.
Couldn’t if they wanted to. The Saints already have to cut tens of millions in cap money just to get under the cap for next year.
“The Pokes can trade Dak Prescott to dem Saints to get Payton.”
No chance on earth the Cowboys would make themselves much, much worse just to acquire Sean Payton. People can say what they want about Dak, and as a Giants fan I’m certainly no fan of his, but he’s a great QB and Dallas would be horrible without him.
He fired Jimmy Johnson after winning a superbowl… Why would firing McCarthy after winning games, but not looking close to potential.
Jason Garrett lasted 9 1/2 years and he never sniffed the NFC Championship game. His successor has derped away the season 3 years in a row.
Geof Jerry is waiting until Kellen is ready for the HC spot. He is not firing or hiring until that time. He has let him interview to see if he gets a contract offer and that will be met by him. Jerry loves the kid and we all know when Jerry gets a crush it takes a lot to get him away to someone else.
I am not sure NOs let’s Payton go for much under their asking price. What is the incentive to do so? Payton might get upset? It is a business decision nothing personal. I don’t see how a 1 & 2 3rds equals 2 1s. Maybe a 1 and 3 this year and a 2 and 3 next. Not sure how that all works out.
If Payton were smart he wouldn’t Coach for a rookie owner and a QB like Wilson and he’d be stupid to coach a guy like Murray. He should sit this year out and wait and see if the chargers or cowboys job opens up in a year ifnot sooner
ya but imagine visiting Arizona then heading over to Denver in the dead of Winter…
Coaching contracts are guaranteed and that rookie owner is so much richer than every other owner in football that he’s richer than number 2-4 combined. I’d say it’s pretty smart to see what that guy is prepared to offer.
$20-$25 mill is crazy for a coach, as good as he may be. Sorry.
People went nuts after feuded supposedly got 10/$100 mill. Not sure what bellichek (or Tomlin, Reid or Harbaugh) but I bet they’re not half of that.
Bellichick makes $20 million a year
Reid makes $8 million a year
Tomlin makes $8 million a year
Harbaugh makes $12 million a year
Shannhan 10M
Carroll 15M
McVay 14M
Team owners make and have so much money that the richer ones might as well spend where their spending isn’t capped. Rob Walton owns cars worth more than Payton would make in two seasons. It doesn’t matter.
He’s a very successful coach but I still find it hard to believe someone would give up 2 first round picks for him.
The problem: without a distasteful alternative strategy the Broncos are at the mercy of the Saints.
Here’s one: Accept our first round pick or we’ll use 2023 to rebuild and maybe talk again next year. We’ll let Payton keep his $10M/year FOX gig and pay him another $10M to be our Consultant. We’ll give Rosberg a one-year Head Coach contract, give DC Evero a big raise, and hire an OC and OL Coach that can help fix Wilson and the O-Line. All with advice from consultant Payton, of course.
Aside from the other problems with this, that bit at the end there would be tampering, and you may recall a team getting hit pretty hard for tampering with Payton.
Why wouldn’t Wilson visiting Payton to recruit him be tampering? Besides what is he going to say Mr Payton please come to Denver in the spring time and he says no I’ve been there in the winter. Sorry that song broke out in my head. Seriously now can Wilson say I stunk this year to get Seattle a good draft pick ? I promise I will be better next. Also I bet Wilson doesn’t call anyone Mr. Would be too much for his ego to give that respect to anyone. Maybe it is OK since they are done for the season. I know nobody can recruit negotiate with FAs until is it a week after the SB or am I mixing sports up?
Right now it’s the coaching equivalent of letting a player seek a trade. Having him consult while he’s contractually obligated to another team is a different story.
And now you’ve got “Please Come to Boston” stuck in my head.
Payton is making a mistake considering either of these two loser franchises, as one has a meddling owner – while the other has no resources and thus will stunk for the next three years.
I imagine Denver isn’t in your group of loser franchises. Your name could lean one to believe you are a Donkey fan. Besides rich how would you rate your owner?
Oof I think you are exaggerating Waltons worth. His wife is the richest he just tags along for the ride. You think he is worth that much more than Vulcan Sports which owns the Seahawks and Blazers? I don’t know how much I don’t know how much Jody has donated of Paul’s wealth but there still is a lot there. She found a way to keep the Hawks for now. Not sure if it was put in there so she can keep them until she is tired of ownership or it was an accident. She seems to be liking it though. She is a great owner not afraid to spend money and is pretty quite about the team. She had to be convinced to trade Russ she liked him but other than that don’t hear much from her. Hope she keeps them for a long time. She could be my sugar momma too. She isn’t all that good looking but money can hide that. Lol
to be fair, we still don’t know if Hackett was the main issue.
RW was great in Seattle, maybe a better system under a new HC changes everything
Goku, I agree. Hackett did have serious game management problems, but I believe lack of OL protection was the leading cause of RW’s poor performance. It’s hard to check down thru your receivers with a thousand pound of beef descending on you. That’s why I’m so sensitive about trading away picks.
If whoever we get as a new HC can build a decent OL, everyone will think he’s a wizard who ‘fixed’ RW.
Thing is, Wilson created most of that on his own. He would hold the ball or scramble about to throw a deep shot, or just throw bad balls to covered receivers when he had open options underneath. Wilson wasn’t always pressured when this occurred. Denver’s line, minus the right tackle spot, is actually not bad. Bolles going down certainly made things worse, but Wilson’s poor decision making and desire to control the offense were the major issues.
Hackett is primarily responsible because it ultimately is his job to reign in the quarterback and instill a sense of order or confidence in the team, and bench a player of that player is not improving or following the gameplan. It is also his job to come up with a gameplan that works to his players’ strengths, which he also failed to do. I do not believe that it was a talent issue at all in Denver. The issues were in execution and crisis management.
Imagine if it was Bill Walsh coaching the broncos to a 2-15 record this year in his first year. He went 2-14 in 1979 coaching the niners his rookie year. Point im making is that Hackett didn’t get a fair shake
ya but Bill Walsh wasn’t given an all-pro QB in his prime in 79
interesting point none the less.