WATCH: Sean Payton says he has spoken to Broncos ownership

Broncos coach candidate Sean Payton said “ownership and front office” will have more influence on his decision than a team’s QB situation.

Sean Payton stepped down from his head coach job with the New Orleans Saints following the 2021 season, but he still has two more years remaining on his contract with the team.

Payton is now a candidate to return to the NFL as a coach, but his next team would have to compensate the Saints in order to hire him. New Orleans is believed to be seeking at least a first-round pick in exchange for the coach.

The Denver Broncos have already approached the Saints about Payton and the team has received permission from New Orleans to interview him. Denver cannot host Payton for an official in-person visit until Jan. 17, but Payton confirmed during Fox’s NFL pregame show on Sunday that he has already spoken with the Broncos.

“Denver’s the first team,” Payton said. “I was able to have a conversation with their owner.”

Payton presumably spoke with team co-owner CEO Greg Penner, who is leading Denver’s head coach search.

Payton later said the Broncos are the only team that he’s heard from so far, and he implied that there’s a 70% chance he could remain with Fox Sports. Payton also said that “ownership and front office” will influence his decision more than a city’s appeal or a team’s quarterback situation.

After a big trade with the Seattle Seahawks to acquire quarterback Russell Wilson last year, Denver currently have just six picks for the 2023 NFL draft (general manager George Paton prefers to have ten).

One of those picks is a first-round selection from the San Francisco 49ers (through the Miami Dolphins) via the Bradley Chubb trade. If the Broncos use that first-round pick to acquire Payton, it would leave the team with just five picks remaining for April’s draft.

In addition to speaking with Payton, Denver has also set up a virtual interview with Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh. The Broncos’ search for a new head coach has begun.

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