The nasty little bit known as compensation appears to have been cleared and Sean Payton is on the verge of becoming the next head coach of the Denver Broncos.
The compensation will work this way:
Compensation: Denver’s 2023 first-round pick and next year’s second-round pick for Sean Payton and the Saints’ 2024 third.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 31, 2023
Payton will return to the sidelines after spending 2022 with FOX Sports. He left the New Orleans Saints after the 2021 season. However, his contract with New Orleans ran through 2024.
Hence, the need for compensation.
Payton steps into a Denver situation that saw Russell Wilson’s first year as a Bronco backfire. Nathaniel Hackett was fired during the dismal campaign in his first season as an NFL head coach.
The Broncos went 5-12 and finished last in the AFC West.
Payton was 152-89 over 15 seasons with the Saints, winning a Super Bowl and seven NFC South titles.
.@AdamSchefter broke down the Sean Payton trade details while over the phone on live TV 👏 pic.twitter.com/yFiHsPZfzA
— ESPN (@espn) January 31, 2023
To give you an idea of how confusing the Broncos are:
Unbelievable: The #Broncos spent today trying to hire DeMeco Ryans AGAIN today before he recommitted to the #Texans, sources say. When he agreed to terms with the Texans, they moved and finalized Sean Payton.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 31, 2023
The #Broncos last few weeks:
— Zeroed in on DeMeco Ryans.
— Secretly tried to lure Jim Harbaugh from Michigan.
— Negotiated a Sean Payton deal.
— Tried to hire Ryans again.
— Finalized the hire of Payton as their new coach. https://t.co/tlMLnjdM9u— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 31, 2023
In case you were wondering, the Saints are not on the schedule to face the Broncos in 2023.