Are the Denver Broncos losing a major battle currently?

Dec 27, 2022; Englewood, CO, USA; Denver Broncos CEO Greg Penner listens as general manager George Payton speaks at the UCHealth Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 27, 2022; Englewood, CO, USA; Denver Broncos CEO Greg Penner listens as general manager George Payton speaks at the UCHealth Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports /
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Recent information revealed about potential head coach choices for the Denver Broncos is painting a grim picture for the team’s next moves.  Right now, no one can truly say for sure what is going on with the team’s head coaching search, and that might not be a good thing.

At the very beginning, we were reliably told that the team wanted to “swing big” with their next head coach, and Jim Harbaugh and Sean Payton’s names raced to the top of the list.  Dan Quinn was also seen as a big swing for some reason.

That was the line that many in the media were using for weeks.  Then, Jim Harbaugh announced that he was returning to Michigan and would not pursue NFL opportunities.  That’s when the damn appears to have started breaking for the Denver Broncos.

As the search for the next batch of head coaches roared on, other teams began to complete interviews and formulate lists for potential second-round interviews.

This was all while no one knew for sure what was going on with the Broncos.  As of very recently, DeMeco Ryans emerged as a top candidate for the team while Sean Payton, who was seen as a top candidate for a while, apparently was dropped down a tier on the list.

To make matters even worse, Dan Quinn also announced that he would remain with the Dallas Cowboys, so that was another top candidate crossed off the list.

And then, as recently as Friday, more news broke that the Houston Texans were serious contenders to land DeMeco Ryans in their head coaching search and that he could choose his former team over the Broncos.

If Ryans were to go to Houston, that would be three of their supposed top candidates all unavailable.

Jim Harbaugh returned to Michigan, Dan Quinn returned to the Cowboys, and DeMeco Ryans could apparently choose the Broncos over the Texans.

Would that then leave the team to engage in a trade with the New Orleans Saints for Sean Payton?  Are we even sure that would happen?  The Denver Broncos haven’t even scheduled second-round interviews, and I’ve seen other credible reports suggest that Payton’s candidacy is not as “top” as it once was for Denver.

Right now, are the Broncos losing a battle they can’t afford to lose? Because it sure looks like it.