Sean Payton was the top candidate on the head coaching market this year, and he drew considerable interest around the league while still being under contract with the Saints. The Cardinals interviewed him during their search, but he ultimately wound up in Denver. 
Part of the reason for that was the trade compensation New Orleans was seeking for a hire to become possible. When speaking publicly on the topic, Cardinals owner Michael Bidwill revealed that trade talks quickly left Arizona out of the running to acquire Payton, in light of their rebuilding effort.
“We spent a lot of time,” with Payton, Bidwill said, via Pro Football Talk’s Josh Alper. “The issues around coach Payton had nothing to do with the money, the compensation we would be paying him. It was all the compensation, the draft compensation to the Saints. We just weren’t willing to go with what the Saints wanted us to give up. It would have been too costly to the team for us to rebuild that roster. It was really a series of tradeoffs. I still felt like we got great coaches out there that can get this team turned around. I think we were right when you look at [Jonathan Gannon].”
Denver sent New Orleans 2023 first- and 2024 second-round picks in exchange for Payton and a third-rounder in 2024. That came as little surprise, given reports early in the interviewing process that the two teams had the framework of an agreement in place. The Broncos’ willingness to part with a Day 1 selection is especially noteworthy considering the package they sent Seattle for Russell Wilson last offseason, and is obviously greater than what Bidwill deemed an appropriate price within his team’s circumstances.
The Cardinals turned their attention away from Payton towards a shortlist of finalists which included Gannon. The now-former Eagles defensive coordinator took the Arizona job not long after the Super Bowl, and has a pair of new coordinators on his staff to lead the franchise in a different direction after the Kliff Kingsbury and Steve Keim era came to an end after the regular season. The reputation the team took on during that span was one of the key reasons Payton ultimately headed to Denver.
“I think [Cardinals QB Kyler Murray] is extremely talented, and I think they have the same challenges there that we have in Denver,” Payton said after his Broncos hire became official. “They are very similar challenges. Culture in the building has to be better. It just does.”
Having passed on a Payton deal, the Cardinals now approach the new league year with roughly $14MM in cap space and four of the first 97 picks in the upcoming draft. How they use that capital in the coming months will go a long way in determining their success, and, to an extent, whether or not balking at the Saints’ trade demands was the right call.
Go cheap and go home
Bidcheap didn’t do it because he is CHEAP. The Cardinals aren’t a sports franchise to that family and have never been. It is an investment that someday will be pocketed. Bidcheap wants a franchise so he can be cool and pal around with his drinking buddies and think he is something. This team hasn’t won since 1947. Complete joke for their fan base and it is dwindling fast after this disaster of a coaching hire. Meanwhile Kingsbury is in Thailand collecting his $$$ and Keim is in a rehab facility in Surprise laughing all the way to the bank.
Coaching staff money has no impact on anything other than the bottom line. Since there is no rule regulating cash payment instead of draft pick compensation for coaches, any team could have simply offered $30 – $40 Million to the Saints in lieu of draft picks if they really wanted Payton.
In trading coaches you can ask and offer draft picks, cash or combination.still comes down to what Saints wanted.
So silly for Bidwell to even make a comment about the pursuit of Payton. Way to let your fans know that your CURRENT head coach that you just hired was your second choice. What a tool.
That was my first thought, too. Lol. Why not just say, “we spoke with Payton, but we felt coach Gannon was the best fit for this team.”
That photo is priceless, is that the owner?
There’s like a 100 statements that would fit that photo and be hilarious.