Saints-Sean Payton-Broncos Reactions: Fact or Fiction

A closer examination of some of the initial public reactions after the trade of former New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton to the Denver Broncos.

Six days past a year since he stepped down as coach of the New Orleans Saints, Sean Payton will be the new coach of the Denver Broncos. New Orleans traded the 59-year-old Payton to Denver on Tuesday, along with a 2024 3rd round draft choice. In return, the Saints got a 2023 1st round pick (#29 overall) and a 2024 2nd round choice from the Broncos. 

Thus ends a saga surrounding Payton that lasted nearly three weeks. A coach that won more games than any other in Saints franchise history (152-89 record) and had 10 winning seasons in 15 years now takes over a Broncos team coming off six straight losing records.

Payton, who was under contract with New Orleans for the next two seasons, was a hot commodity entering the offseason. He'd had interviews with the Broncos, Houston Texans, Carolina Panthers, and Arizona Cardinals. After weeks of mostly unfounded rumors, the deal with Denver was made. Some in the New Orleans fan base were still not happy about the compensation, or even with Payton himself. 

Cue up the '70's game show music, because it's time to play Saints-Payton-Broncos ''Fact or Fiction".

The Saints ''lost'' the Sean Payton Trade

Nov 14, 2021; New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton after a call by the officials against the Tennessee Titans. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

FICTION 

Before Tuesday afternoon, the Saints did not have a first round choice in the 2023 NFL Draft. Now they do. Before Tuesday, the Saints did not have a second round pick in 2024. Now they do.

Many hoped, or expected, that New Orleans would get a similar haul that the Oakland Raiders got when they traded Jon Gruden to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2002. The Raiders got two first-round picks, two second-round picks, and $8 million dollars from Tampa Bay for Gruden.

Others were expecting that the Saints would get at least a top-10 draft pick for their Super Bowl-winning coach. Houston had the Number 2 and 12th overall selections, Arizona the 3rd overall pick, and Carolina the ninth. 

None of those scenarios were ever a reality. Draft picks are more valued than ever, especially such high picks. An anticipated bidding war for Payton never materialized. Carolina, who as a divisional rival might have had to part with #9, quickly settled for Frank Reich. Houston, where the Number 12 pick might have been in play, instead turned their sights on DeMeco Ryans. Arizona’s Number 3 pick was never in play, leaving Denver's selection as the only realistic possibility for the 2023 draft.

In the end, the Saints undoubtedly got the best deal they could for Sean Payton. They got two picks that they didn't previously have for a man on their payroll that wasn't going to coach for them.

Payton certainly has the ability to return the Broncos to perennial contender status. He could even win a Super Bowl with Denver. If he does, he'd be the first coach in NFL history to win a championship with two franchises. It's also vital for their own success that New Orleans hits big with the draft picks obtained from Denver. 

Perhaps New Orleans misses on those draft picks. Perhaps Payton is a big winner with the Broncos. Unless those things happen and unless it does, then the Saints have to be viewed as the early winner in the controversial trade.

Sean Payton was not going to come back to New Orleans. 

Jan 25, 2022; New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton speaks during a press conference at Ochsner Sports Performance Center. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Wevers-USA TODAY Sports

FACT

Payton said his official good-bye to the Saints franchise on January 25, 2022. He didn't betray the franchise and he never misled anyone. Payton himself indicated in his farewell press conference with the Saints that there would be a good chance he'd coach again. 

Nobody should ever hold ill-will against a person who wants to step away for personal reasons. Payton will instead look for a new challenge in Denver, a rabid fan base similar to New Orleans starved for a return to success. 

From the New Orleans perspective, they almost immediately announced that Dennis Allen would return for a second season as head coach. It was an announcement that caused some strife among fans after a disappointing 7-10 finish, but the organization was unlikely to move on from Allen after just one season. 

Denver ''settled'' on Sean Payton 

Jan 1, 2023; A view of a Denver Broncos helmet against the Kansas City Chiefs. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY

FICTION 

The Broncos were a frontrunner for Payton from the outset. They were the first team to interview him and made the strongest push for his services. 

As expected, there were all kinds of wild and unsubstantiated rumors about where Payton would or wouldn't go from the start. Even when Denver was thought to be a favorite after their initial interview, a so-called report was put out within 24 hours that Payton wasn't satisfied with Broncos ownership--something that the coach instantly refuted. 

Of course the Broncos, and every other opening, were going to speak to several candidates.  It also made sense that those teams would give second interviews to other coaches. Most of them were assistant coaches that had never been a head coach. Meanwhile, Denver and every other team knew what they had in Payton. Only compensation and contract demands would need to be worked out if all sides were interested after an initial interview. 

Even as late as Tuesday morning, so-called reports were circulated that the Broncos were most interested in 49ers defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans before the former Texans LB was hired by Houston. This is also likely false.

Denver was always going to make a splash with this coaching hire. They needed to. Their fan base is becoming increasingly disillusioned with a franchise that has won three Super Bowls, eight conference titles, and 15 AFC West championships. 

The Broncos new ownership group, led by Greg Penner and Condoleezza Rice, were desperate for a big name and have deep pockets. In addition to Payton, Denver also spoke to Michigan HC Jim Harbaugh. They were less than a year removed from the disastrous hiring of former Packers offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett as head coach and a costly trade for QB Russell Wilson that ended in a 5-12 finish and a dead-last offense that averaged less than 17 points per game. 

Feb 7, 2010; New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton hoists the Lombardi Trophy after Super Bowl XLIV against the Indianapolis Colts. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY

Denver has now given up three first round picks and three second round picks for the Russell Wilson/Sean Payton combination. After Wilson's abysmal 2022 showing, there should have been no doubt that the Broncos would have paired him with an offensive-minded coach like Payton. This absolutely needs to work for Denver. 

Only time will tell if this move was successful for either the Denver Broncos or New Orleans Saints. For the time being, however, the Saints, Broncos, and Sean Payton all got what they wanted out of the situation. Fact.