It appears as if Sean Payton has found his new team.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the New Orleans Saints and Denver Broncos are finalizing compensation that would allow the Broncos to hire Payton as their next head coach.
The Saints, who still held the rights to Payton, will receive Denver’s 2023 first-round pick and a 2024 second-round pick. The Saints are sending the Broncos a 2024 third-round pick in addition to Payton.
The Saints will now select No. 30, which will technically be the 29th selection with the Dolphins forfeiting their selection, in the coming draft. The return is particularly notable this season, due to a trade that will send the No. 10 overall pick to the Eagles. It opens up many options to look at prospects, and potential trade up opportunities with the Saints also set to pick against at No. 40.
Payton, 59, stepped down a year ago as head coach of the Saints and worked as an analyst with FOX this past season. His name had surfaced often in head coaching interviews, but it appeared his market was cooling after the Panthers settled on Frank Reich and the Texans appeared to have zeroed in on DeMeco Ryans, whom they hired Tuesday as well. Payton had also interviewed with the Cardinals, the last team involved in the Sean Payton sweepstakes to be without its next head coach.
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After taking a year off, Payton returns to a Broncos team that underachieved last season after making a trade for Russell Wilson.
How Denver arrived at Payton as its next leader was a bit circuitous, though. Reports indicated the team had significant interest in Dan Quinn, who opted to remain as the Cowboys defensive coordinator, and Ryans. They also made a hard push at Michigan's Jim Harbaugh, but he chose to stay put. One of the only questions remaining is how much Denver ultimately lands on for a salary, which rumors indicated Payton would be seeking in the range of $20-plus million per year.
In 15 seasons as head coach of the Saints, Payton had a 152-89 record, reaching the playoffs nine times and winning the Super Bowl in 2009.
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