Sean Payton is the NFL’s hottest free agent coach and the Saints know it.
According to a Monday interview with Payton on “The Herd” with Colin Cowherd, it will cost teams a hefty price to acquire the ex-Giants assistant and Super Bowl-winning coach.
“[Saints GM] Micky Loomis and I have talked already about it, and I think ultimately the compensation for the Saints would be a mid-or-later first-round pick,” Payton said.
He notes that interested teams can arrive at the right price in a lot of different ways
“Each team’s got different ammo and different pick selections, it could be future one maybe where you have to throw in something. I know Micky well and I heard him talk the other day, he was right on and I think I am. too. He has a job to do as a general manager with the Saints. He’ll get the right compensation and I’m sure the [interested] team, if it gets that far, will arrive at it.”
All of the compensation levels depend on Payton finding a new destination this offseason“Now, it changes if nothing happens this year and I go [somewhere] next year, it changes considerably,” he added.
Payton signed a five-year contract extension in 2019, meaning his contract will have expired, and he can sign anywhere after the 2024 season. Whether that value truly plummets next season is unknown, but this price might not scare away as many teams as you think.
Coaching trades, while rare, have a good track record of success in the NFL despite only happening seven times since 1970 when Don Shula was traded to the Dolphins. Other notable coaching trades include the Jets’ trade of Bill Belichick to the Patriots in exchange for a first-round pick (No. 16 Santana Moss), among other compensation.
Mike Holmgren was traded from the Green Bay Packers to the Seattle Seahawks with one year left on his contract. That 1999 trade netted the Packers a second-round pick.
Jon Gruden was famously traded from the Oakland Raiders to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for a massive haul, including a 2002 first-round pick, 2002 second-round pick, 2003 first-round pick, 2004 second-round pick, and $8 million. He then won the Super Bowl in his first season at the helm against his former team.
Saints general manager Mickey Loomis.AP Payton mentioned on the show that the Texans, Broncos, and Panthers all had interviews lined up with him this week.
It will be fascinating to see which of those teams will be willing to pay the type of massive compensation the Saints are seeking for the 2006 NFL Coach of the Year.
