Anonymous NFL Execs Cast Doubt on Broncos Hiring Sean Payton

Not everyone loved the Sean Payton hire in Denver.

The Walton-Penner Group wanted to make a 'big splash' when it came to the Denver Broncos' next head-coaching hire for the 2023 season. After what felt like a long, dramatic, and drawn-out roller-coaster ride for Broncos Country, the team ended up trading away draft capital to land what many considered to be the biggest prize on the coaching market in former Super Bowl-winning head coach of the New Orleans Saints Sean Payton.

Many who cover the league liked how the Broncos landed Payton, given his talent and experience as a play caller shown throughout his coaching career. He is believed to be one of the few coaches in the NFL that could come in and get struggling quarterback Russell Wilson back on track after an abysmal 2022 performance. 

Given the success Payton has had in the NFL, he has the cache to tell Wilson what the offense is going to be and how it needs to be run for the Broncos to succeed, rather than the other way around.

Payton was a 'big splash' for the Broncos, but many across the league don’t love that Denver had to give up draft capital to obtain a head coach. When most head coaches are hired without giving up precious draft commodities, especially from a team that was already limited in picks for 2023, did the Broncos have to trade for a coach to acquire an upgrade? Many would say 'no,' given the precedent of how most coaches are acquired.

In a recent anonymous poll of nine general managers, personnel executives, head coaches, and assistant coaches conducted by Jeff Howe of The Athletic, the question was asked: Who was your favorite head-coaching hire of this cycle? 

Surprisingly, none of the nine individuals polled mentioned Payton. Zero.

The article states that it was a surprise that Payton didn’t receive a vote, given that he "was the biggest name and most accomplished coach on the hiring circuit.” The biggest concern about Payton landing in Denver is the quarterback situation. 

As Howe points out, there is skepticism about whether Wilson will bend to Payton's will.

To Payton’s credit, he has already said Wilson’s personal coach won’t have a setup in the Broncos’ facility, so he is curbing some of the privileges the quarterback received during Denver’s disastrous season under former coach Nathaniel Hackett.

“Payton will flip the organizational structure to get it right,” an assistant coach said. “But they lack assets and need time to get it built up.”

The Broncos gave up three first-round picks and two second-rounders in trades for Wilson and Payton, so they’re short on resources to streamline the rebuild. Then again, if Payton can get the best out of Wilson, the Broncos can at least be competitive while feeling comfortable at quarterback.

 

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The article points out that while the previous regime's power dynamic issues ran amok with Wilson, Payton is already taking charge in Denver. By revoking Wilson's privilege to have his own quarterback coach in the facility, Payton is showing that the Broncos are his ship, and he is very much the captain now.

With the Broncos' limitations in draft capital after trading the Wilson and Payton trades of the past two years, The Athletic believes a turnaround will not be easy. While Payton did not receive a single vote as the favorite hire this cycle, the article contests that this could also be because of the quality of coaches hired by teams this cycle. 

That’s a credit to the rest of the field.

With Carolina Panthers head coach Frank Reich receiving 5.5 votes (one executive split their vote) and DeMeco Ryans receiving 3.5 votes with the Houston Texans, Payton was among Shane Steichen of the Indianapolis Colts and Jonathan Gannon of the Arizona Cardinals to receive zero votes in this poll.

Remember, this was a small-sample size poll of nine NFL individuals, so even if Payton isn’t the favorite hire by many in the league, he could be the right guy in Denver. 

Regardless, whether Payton can fix Wilson or not remains to be seen, but given his experience in the league and his ability to craft offensive systems to maximize his players, the new Broncos head coach might wind up being the favorite hire of this cycle when 2023 is viewed through the lens of history.

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