2) Connections to rumored and recently hired coaches
A big trend recently with the rumored names for Sean Payton's staff is the 2012 Jets. Of the names that are either slated to join the Broncos or are rumored to be a possibility, at least three of them worked on the 2012 Jets staff: Rex Ryan, new STC Ben Kotwica, and new AHC and senior advisor Mike Westhoff. The running backs coach for that staff? Anthony Lynn. Lynn has a strong connection to Rex Ryan, which might lead Ryan to vouch for him to Sean Payton.
Their connection is so strong that one morning while on ESPN, Ryan was brought to tears while speaking about Lynn, who he called a good friend and spoke on how proud he was of him, and even say that he will win a Super Bowl as a coach.
So why does Ryan's connection to Lynn matter? A functional staff with deep ties and connections to each other could do wonders for the Broncos. It would offer them the ability to build a culture quickly, and likely ensure that everyone is on the same page for that culture. Beyond just culture and functionality, to be able to have that type of connection between the offensive and defensive staff would help build continuity and a unified front, and a feeling of family and unity, something that has been sorely missing from Dove Valley since the days of Gary Kubiak and John Elway running the show after being teammates in Denver together. Lynn, Payton, and Ryan offer the Broncos an ability to run that back and create a new family in Denver, and hopefully, one that brings home a title.