Is Sean Payton ok to justify buying and selling for him?

With quite a few teaching vacancies across the NFL there’s one title that retains popping up because the golden goose of 2022: Sean Payton. The previous Tremendous Bowl profitable coach of the New Orleans Saints is on the verge of returning to the league, and with it the hype and expectation that he can deliver rapid success to an ailing franchise.

Payton is sweet, make no mistake, and his return to the league following a break comes on the good time for him. Nearly all of prime coordinators are both nonetheless within the playoffs, have accepted head teaching positions, or would somewhat keep of their present organizations to attempt to preserve pushing for a championship, ready to see if completely different positions come out there sooner or later.

There are way more openings proper now than sure-thing head coaches, and this vacuum has led to Payton changing into the most well liked title within the teaching rumors. To complicate issues he’s nonetheless beneath contract with New Orleans, and any crew wanting Payton would wish to spend vital draft capital in an effort to land him. Reportedly the Saints are wanting nothing lower than a mid 1st spherical decide, which might both imply a great crew being compelled to surrender their first spherical decide, after which some — or a rebuilding crew believing that every one they want is an effective coach, and that’s extra vital than going a distinct route and doubtlessly getting a franchise-defining participant.

Let’s pump the brakes on all this for one second. Is Sean Payton actually value all this? We all know his resume, however is that sufficient {that a} crew ought to critically take into account giving up property to get a longtime coach over looking for a next-generation expertise?

The case for Sean Payton

If you wish to rent a coach who has gained a Tremendous Bowl you’re not going to search out anybody else. Additionally, there’s one thing to be mentioned about bringing in somebody with expertise.

The NFL has shifted lately to see quite a few groups determined to win now. Monetary ramifications, new possession, and the tip of an period for a lot of elite quarterbacks has led to an arms race — which was justified by Tampa Bay profitable the Tremendous Bowl in 2021, adopted by the Rams final season.

So as to grow to be a “win now” crew you need to encourage perception in veteran free brokers who see your group as a spot the place they’ll get a hoop earlier than crusing off into the sundown. This requires expertise, a confirmed path — and maybe most significantly, a coach who can get the job accomplished, not simply on the sphere, however in recruiting gamers.

That makes a crew like Denver an apparent potential touchdown spot. When you actually consider there’s juice left to squeeze out of Russell Wilson then there’s maybe no higher technique to get this crew out of the cellar and again into rivalry.

I’ll be trustworthy, that is one of the best argument I can muster — as a result of a win-now state of affairs is the one one that basically is sensible.

The case towards Sean Payton

Are we actually certain Payton can have the identical impression with out Drew Brees? Like, actually, actually certain? Since you higher have the reply to that earlier than investing the cash it will take to rent Payton, and quit the decide required to make it occur.

Payton and Brees had been linked for the overwhelming majority of their careers, and the one considerable success both had was with one another. There’s merely not sufficient concrete proof to say whether or not Brees flourished due to Payton’s system, or if Payton benefitted by having one of many biggest quarterbacks of all time for 15 years.

What’s objectively true is that the Saints underperformed with Payton, notably within the playoffs. We’re speaking a 15 yr run within the NFC that didn’t require going by Tom Brady and New England, because the AFC needed to endure — and nonetheless New Orleans turned that into one Tremendous Bowl win and simply two appearances within the NFC Championship recreation. The remainder was mired with flame outs within the Wild Card or Divisional Rounds, regardless of placing up big common season information.

Successful a variety of video games is sweet, however there’s a distinct degree of scrutiny that comes with Payton now as an older coach requiring huge compensation, than as a doe-eyed assistant as he was when he took the Saints job at age 42.

After all, that’s earlier than we get to the elephants within the room.

1. Being implicated in 2010 prescription drug controversy, which is has but to be finalized in court docket
2. Being suspended in 2012 for BountyGate
3. Kind of bailing on the Saints after one failed season with out Brees, which can should been half of a bigger scheme to affix Tom Brady in Miami
4. Topic of the film Dwelling Crew, which sucked

That’s a variety of baggage whenever you’re staking your complete future on a crew.

So… is Payton value it?

Look, that also relies upon. As I mentioned, in the event you’re the Broncos or even perhaps the Cardinals, a crew that appears legitimately near rivalry and also you simply really feel such as you want a coach to place all of it collectively — then perhaps.

What confounds me is groups just like the Texans and Panthers seeming inquisitive about Payton. Each want a complete rebuild, and that turns into much more tough when you need to hand over property simply to get the coach.

For probably the most half we’ve seen coach trades end in a combined bag. Jon Gruden helped deliver a Tremendous Bowl to the Buccaneers, and the Jets buying and selling Invoice Belichick will likely be remembered perpetually — however what about Herm Edwards to the Chiefs? Mike Holmgren to the Seahawks? Simply because success was achieved in a single place doesn’t imply it is going to port over — and conditions like Andy Reid are the exception, not the rule.

In the long run that is very a lot purchaser beware. Sean Payton is a extremely good soccer coach, however there are a variety of good soccer coaches who don’t require giving up draft capital.