Tag: cody rager

Sean Payton speaks on the decision to sign another ex-Saints wide receiver

Denver Broncos coach Sean Payton spoke on the decision to sign another ex-Saints wide receiver. He views A.T. Perry as someone worth developing:

Sean Payton earned some more ire from New Orleans Saints fans last week when his Denver Broncos signed another ex-Saints player — former 2023 draft pick A.T. Perry, the wide receiver from Wake Forest. Perry showed up on game days but his poor day-to-day performance at practice didn’t help his case for a roster spot, and the team chose to waive him.

Now he’s on the Broncos practice squad. Payton spoke about the decision to add Perry, who he sees as a player with impressive physical gifts and plenty of skills to develop further.

“We had some exposure with him,” Payton said Friday. “I obviously wasn’t there, but Pete Carmichael (was). We noticed him in his rookie year last year on film… We weren’t going to claim him, but we sure would like to recruit him to come to the practice squad. He’s long with good hands.”

It should also be noted that former Saints assistant college scouting director Cody Rager was hired into Denver’s front office this offseason, and he was part of the decision to draft Perry a year ago.

Payton emphasized that they view Perry as a stash-and-develop signing, not someone likely to get thrown into  a game right away. He’s  a longshot to p lay against the Saints next Thursday night, but never say never. He learned Carmichael’s playbook as a rookie which is derived from Payton’s system. Perry may not need as much time to get up to speed as other players in his  position.

[lawrence-auto-related count=5]

Sean Payton has brought 22 ex-Saints to the Broncos (view them all)

Broncos coach Sean Payton has brought 22 former Saints to Denver. Here’s the full list of players, coaches and executives.

Just call them the Denver Saints.

Since taking over as the Denver Broncos’ head coach last year, Sean Payton has hired 22 former New Orleans Saints. Payton, who won a Super Bowl with the Saints in 2009, has brought in 12 coaches (including a strength coach), two executives and eight players (but two of those players joined New Orleans after Payton left).

The most recent addition is new defensive backs coach Jim Leonhard, who spent training camp and preseason with the Saints as a safety in 2013. Several other coaches also played under Payton in New Orleans, including special teams assistant Chris Banjo, offensive line coach Zach Strief and offensive quality control coach Logan Kilgore.

The most notable former Saints players who now play for the Broncos are kicker Wil Lutz and tight end Adam Trautman, who are both scheduled to become free agents if they are not re-signed before March 13.

Here’s a quick list of all 22 ex-Saints who have joined Payton’s Broncos.

Quick Saints takeaways from Jeff Ireland’s Senior Bowl interview

Quick Saints takeaways on Trevor Penning, the 2023 draft class, Tulane QB Michael Pratt, and more Broncos departures from Jeff Ireland’s Senior Bowl interview:

There are few events more important to the New Orleans Saints’ pre-draft process than the annual Senior Bowl, where coaches and scouts get an opportunity to meet with dozens of draft prospects and see them go through their paces at three days of practices.

Local media caught up with Saints assistant general manager and vice president of college personnel Jeff Ireland this week, who shared his take on a number of topics including players already on the roster and those he’s looking to add. You can find his full media availability session here, but we highlighted some key takeaways:

Broncos poach scouting director from Saints

Sean Payton has hired Cody Rager as VP of player personnel. Rager previously served as assistant college scouting director with the Saints.

Sean Payton is adding a familiar name to the Denver Broncos’ peronnel department.

The Broncos are hiring former New Orleans Saints assistant college scouting director Cody Rager, NewOrleans.Football’s Nick Underhill first reported Sunday. The news has since been confirmed by multiple outlets.

Denver isn’t firing anyone to make room for Rager. Instead, the club has created a new role for him as the team’s vice president of player personnel.

Payton and Rager worked together in New Orleans from 2015-2021. Rager started as an area scout before being promoted to a national scout and eventually becoming the Saints’ assistant college scouting director.

John Sigler of Saints Wire described Rager’s departure as “an impactful loss” in New Orleans. Rager will now team up with general manager George Paton in Denver as the Broncos begin preparing for free agency and the NFL draft later this spring.

At the time of publication, the Broncos have not parted ways with any coaches or executives so far this offseason. Rager is the first addition.

Follow the Broncos Wire Podcast:
Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts

[lawrence-auto-related count=5 category=482983128]

Sean Payton’s Broncos poaching more staff from the Saints

Sean Payton’s Broncos are poaching more staff from the Saints. NOF reports that the Broncos are hiring Jeff Ireland’s right-hand man:

This hurts: NewOrleans.Football’s Nick Underhill reports that Sean Payton’s Denver Broncos are hiring more staff away from the Saints, this time poaching Jeff Ireland’s right-hand man.

Cody Rager spent nine years in New Orleans as a West Coast area scout before being bumped up to the national level, and he was promoted in 2021 to work as assistant college scouting director. He’s now leaving for a new role in Denver’s front office.

Payton took a number of longtime Saints assistants with him to the Broncos last offseason. Rager is just the latest departure, but he’s an impactful loss. With the roster getting older and the team short on draft picks, New Orleans needs all the help it can get in evaluating this year’s prospects to add the right players to the team. Hopefully they can find a capable replacement already on staff.

[lawrence-auto-related count=4]