The Sean Payton sweepstakes will wrap up, likely in the near future, but should the Denver Broncos truly have interest in the coach? For starters, I’d like to say that I am very much advocating for the team to hire Sean Payton.
However, it’s always healthy to look at the other side of the argument, so that’s what I plan to do with this piece. There are some valid reasons for not wanting Payton as the next head coach of the Denver Broncos, and I’ll try to elaborate on those.
Ultimately, to me, the team will be in the best shape possible hiring Payton given the crop of coaches they have interviewed. He’s won over 60% of his regular season games, has a winning record in the playoffs, and has won a Super Bowl.
This is a Hall of Fame caliber coach we’re talking about here.
However, what are three reasons why he should not be the next head coach for the team?
3 reasons Sean Payton should not coach the Broncos
He’ll cost draft picks to acquire
The first reason why Payton should not coach the Broncos is perhaps the most common reason that people cite, and that’s that he’ll cost at least one first-round pick, and various reports have indicated he could cost two firsts or a first “plus more.”
For a team that is a bit thin with their draft capital, this might not be a good idea. The team has needs all over the offense, and their first-round pick in 2023, which originally belonged to the San Francisco 49ers, keeps falling as the Niners keep winning.
Those who do not want the team to hire Payton cite this, mostly. It’s a valid reason. Plus, there hasn’t been a ton of head coaching trades, so it’s hard to know if the Broncos are even getting a good deal.
3 reasons Sean Payton should not coach the Broncos
Was his success on offense due to Drew Brees?
Sean Payton has largely been seen as an offensive mastermind, but was that mainly because of Drew Brees and how good he was? During Payton’s time as the New Orleans Saints head coach, the team consistently fielded some of the best offenses in the NFL.
In fact, in nine of his 15 years as HC of the Saints, the team ranked fifth overall or better in scoring, and six of those years were at least top three. During the 2000-2002 seasons, when Payton was the offensive coordinator of the New York Giants, the team ranked 15th, 21st, and 22nd in points scored.
The rushing offense he crafted in New Orleans was also hit or miss, as they did most of their damage through the air. Could it be that Drew Brees had a bigger impact on the offense than Payton did? It’s certainly plausible.
I think the truth is somewhere in the middle; Brees was a huge reason why the offenses were so good, but Payton also should get a ton of credit for crafting the offense and calling the plays.
3 reasons Sean Payton should not coach the Broncos
Does he really want to coach the Broncos?
There has been some speculation that Payton might return to the booth as an analyst if he does not take a coaching job this year. We’ve heard that location is important for Payton, as he has ties to Los Angeles.
It’s also worth mentioning that Sean Payton apparently did not want to work with Russell Wilson initially, and you wonder how much someone would genuinely love to come into this division and coach against some of these teams.
It could be a case where Payton wants to get back into coaching more than he wants to coach the Denver Broncos, so if he does indeed get hired by the team, how do we know his heart is in the right place?
3 playmakers Broncos should go after with any new head coach
The Denver Broncos need more playmakers in their offense, and there will be ample chance to get some in the 2023 NFL offseason.
He could ultimately elect to return to the booth, so no harm would be done, but I do think it’s a valid concern. The fans have a right to experience a head coach who truly wants to coach the Denver Broncos, a well-run team with a rich history.