The Sean Payton sweepstakes are officially over as it was reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter that he will be heading to the Denver Broncos. According to Schefter, the Saints and Broncos have finalized the compensation in return for Super-Bowl winning head coach Payton. New Orleans was without a first round draft pick heading into the 2023 NFL Draft, but that has shifted with Payton being traded to Denver.
What Did New Orleans Get in Return:
The official compensation for the Payton trade to the Broncos is that the Saints will receive Denver’s 2023 first-round pick and next year’s second round pick for Payton and the Saints’ 2024 third-round pick. New Orleans will be now be with a first-round pick after trading this year’s first-round draft pick to the NFC Champion Philadelphia Eagles.
The Saints will now hold Denver’s first-round draft pick that will slot them as the No. 29 overall pick in this year’s NFL Draft. New Orleans will be able to use this opportunity in order to fill one of their top three needs: quarterback, running back and defensive tackle.
Looking Back at Sean Payton’s Tenure in New Orleans:
With Payton heading to Denver we look back on his time with the New Orleans Saints and how he helped revive a city that was dealing with the tragedy of Hurricane Katrina. Payton announced that he was stepping away from the Saints just a year ago as he wanted to take a break from football and go into broadcasting.
Payton was hired by the Saints back in on January 18th in 2006 as he became the 13th head coach in franchise history. The veteran head coach was able to make several splashes before his first season with the Saints by recruiting Drew Brees and Reggie Bush to New Orleans. Bush would be the second overall selection by the black and gold in the 2006 NFL Draft.
The first season for Payton got off to a great as the Saints were able to advance all the way to the NFC Championship game before falling to the Chicago Bears on the road. New Orleans ranked at the top in the NFL in total offense and it was the first time the Saints made it to the postseason since the 2000 campaign. The Saints runs to the NFC Championship was good enough for Payton to receive Coach of the Year honors.
New Orleans would go 15-16 in their next two seasons from 2007-08. The 2009 season would lead to a special run for Saints fan as New Orleans set a franchise-record for most wins in a regular season (13). The Saints were able to run through the Cardinals in the divisional round and they were able to beat the Minnesota Vikings to head to the Super Bowl to take on the Indianapolis Colts. A Tracy Porter interception sealed the victory for the Saints and they would win their first Super Bowl in franchise history.
The Saints were able to finish the 2010 season with a 11-5 record before getting knocked in the playoffs by the Seattle Seahawks. The 2011 season would feature a record-setting offense for the Saints as they set an NFL single-season mark with 7,474 net yards. The next few years wouldn’t go the Saints way as they finished the next three seasons with a 21-27 record.
Payton was able to consistently make the playoffs in the next several years, but they were never able to make it back to the Super Bowl. He is looked at one of the top offensive gurus in the game and now he will bring that with him heading to Denver.
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