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7 players that could follow Sean Payton to the Denver Broncos

By Sayre Bedinger

GLENDALE, AZ - DECEMBER 18: Wide receiver Brandin Cooks #10 of the New Orleans Saints celebrates after scoring on a 45 yard touchdown reception against the Arizona Cardinals during the secodn quarter of the NFL game at the University of Phoenix Stadium on December 18, 2016 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, AZ - DECEMBER 18: Wide receiver Brandin Cooks #10 of the New Orleans Saints celebrates after scoring on a 45 yard touchdown reception against the Arizona Cardinals during the secodn quarter of the NFL game at the University of Phoenix Stadium on December 18, 2016 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /
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Sean Payton, Denver Broncos
Jan 8, 2023; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Saints quarterback Jameis Winston (2) runs to the locker room after the game against the Carolina Panthers during the second half at Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports /

3. Jameis Winston, QB, New Orleans Saints (possible cap casualty)

The New Orleans Saints can save almost $13 million on their 2023 salary cap by designating Jameis Winston as a post-June 1 release, and given the fact that this team could be looking to completely reset at the QB position, would that be much of a surprise?

Probably not.

Back in the 2021 season, before Winston went down with a knee injury, Sean Payton had him playing some of the best and most efficient football we’ve seen from him since he won the Heisman Trophy at Florida State. Winston has always had talent, but he hasn’t always been able to rein it in.

With the Saints in 2021, through six games and change, Winston had thrown 14 touchdowns compared to three interceptions. He posted the highest TD percentage and the lowest INT percentage of his NFL career as a starter. It’s only a seven-game sample, but it was a drastic improvement from the 30 interceptions he threw two years prior as a member of the Buccaneers.

The Broncos would be an interesting landing spot for Winston for a couple of reasons. First and foremost, the team has been allergic to reclamation projects in the past, and Winston is one of those. Maybe less so than he was in 2020, but nonetheless. Second, it would represent arguably the highest-profile backup Russell Wilson has ever had. Not that Russ needs someone to compete with in the offseason but someone who could legitimately push him would be nice.

With all due respect to Brett Rypien, having someone like Winston around in the event that Wilson would get hurt or play poorly again would be a much better contingency plan for the Denver Broncos. You would think Winston would be eager to get back with Sean Payton if the opportunity presented itself.

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