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HC Sean Payton, DEN (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Faust
- Start date
It's pick 29.
The Big Donkey
Footballguy
Miami forfeited their 1st round pick for tampering. There are only 31 1st round picks in the upcoming draft. SF can not have the 30th pick. KC or Eagles will have that pick.Ya i knew that. But don't think that's the Denver pick. I think they updated tankathon already and it's pick 30 from SF (they just didn't show that it's through denver)Miami lost their 1st rounder this year. It says forfeited on your link.
Ah, I'm confused I guess. Is it the Niners pick 30?
Tankathon | 2026 NFL Draft Order
2026 NFL Draft order tracker updated after every game. View traded picks in all seven rounds and a live updating Mock Draft after each game.www.tankathon.com
Grigs Allmoon
Footballguy
Oof... All that draft capital for Wilson and Payton. I don't see this working out well.
karl.Racki
Footballguy
Congrats to Denver.. They got to be a favorite now in the AFC. Wilson has a year behind him, and now you bring in a great coach, maybe one of the best in game minds on our times.
Dizzy
Footballguy
What? They aren't even making the play-offs. No chance. They are noticeably worse than all of this year's play-off teams and probably a step behind the others that just missed.
Great coach - maybe -let's see what he does without a HOF QB that can still get it done.
Sarcasm?
A lot can change in one year but Bills, Bengals, and Chiefs are certainly ahead of them at a minimum.
irish eyes
Footballguy
Completely agree Dizzy. The train wreck will continue and probably get worse.
psychobillies
Footballguy
This is the same fan base that thinks Bobby Hebert was a good QB, or that he's any good at his current job.
karl.Racki
Footballguy
Sure those teams are good, but IMO Denver can be right there with them.
Leroy Hoard
Footballguy
Now the big question is who gets his seat on TV.
Especially one who was essentially a .500 coach in his one season without a HOF QB, and only won 5 playoff games after the 2009 season (11 years) with him. I think Denver overpaid and is basically doubling down on last year's overpay (in hindsight) for Wilson.
If I'm a Chiefs or even Chargers fan, I'm not remotely concerned.
Based on?
I’m sure they’ll be better, but no elite draft picks or much cap space makes it a lot harder to get up there
Hot Sauce Guy
Footballguy
Whoa - I missed this news.
Color me surprised. I thought he’d stay in the booth
Color me surprised. I thought he’d stay in the booth
Capella
Footballguy
Seriously? They should be jumping over the moon.
Ghost Rider
Footballguy
I have long been in the "Sean Payton is overrated" camp, but as a Broncos fan, I will take this. He is a massive upgrade over everyone they've had since they last won a Super Bowl. The defense is already a top 5 one, and I am sure he will find a way to make the offense better. Like has been said, given that they are all-in with Wilson for years, might as well bring in a QB guy to try and get the most out of Wilson. Now we will truly see if Wilson is done or not.
Doug B
Footballguy
Seriously. More than a few thought two firsts was the rock-bottom floor of a deal.
One thing almost all of us forgot about when considering Gruden’s move to Tampa: he wasn’t retired. Gruden was still coaching the Raiders when the Buccaneers negotiated the deal to pry him away from Oakland. Pulling THAT off probably did require two firsts plus some.
rockaction
Footballguy
I'm in the minority on this one, but I really find it hard to believe that he's done. I just can't imagine it falling off the cliff so quickly. Of course, I can be proven wrong as early as next year, but I just doubt that he's done.
Deamon
Footballguy
Ah, yes that makes sense, thanks.Miami forfeited their 1st round pick for tampering. There are only 31 1st round picks in the upcoming draft. SF can not have the 30th pick. KC or Eagles will have that pick.Ya i knew that. But don't think that's the Denver pick. I think they updated tankathon already and it's pick 30 from SF (they just didn't show that it's through denver)Miami lost their 1st rounder this year. It says forfeited on your link.
Ah, I'm confused I guess. Is it the Niners pick 30?
Tankathon | 2026 NFL Draft Order
2026 NFL Draft order tracker updated after every game. View traded picks in all seven rounds and a live updating Mock Draft after each game.
culdeus
Footballguy
How is that different than MMc?
Craig_MiamiFL
Footballguy
Not surprising by Denver. They're desperate with a cooked QB they're stuck with and no draft capital.
voiceofunreason
Footballguy
Didn't give enough picks away for Wilson? Running the team into the ground.
Other than QB and the owner, the HC is the most important part of a team. It is worth trading high end draft capital for the right guy. Denver, without question, was the worst coaches team in the league last year. Now, is Wilson dusted? Some people think so, but to me it was scheme. They looked ragged all year long, nothing ever looked planned and the play calling did not take advantage of the offensive skill set. Payton will change that quickly, and while Russ is not what he was, he’s certainly better than what he showed last year.
This is a good move by the Broncos. The draft pick compensation will soon be forgotten. Denver will challenge for a playoff spot next year.
Harry Frogfish
Footballguy
Not surprising by you. You have no clue what they can do, this train just left the station. This isn't the Chargers, or a number of other flailing franchises. None of us know yet, but the one thing we're learning is they won't hold back on going after whatever it takes. They might be wrong but I think that is shortsighted, at best. You have nothing to go on, literally. They are more loaded than people realize. Nathaniel Hackett was one of the worst coaches/hires in history, and the results proved as much. But that was not this ownership, nor their GM.
You're looking at a clean slate now with talent all around, period. And finally legitimate leadership. Whole new ballgame.
One thing they won't be doing is penny-pinching, we've learned that much already. How many teams can actually say that? Fewer than you think. Most are just collecting checks.
This Denver team is stacked, and just became BY FAR the richest team in the NFL (the top 6 owners COMBINED do not have the war chest Denver does), and the salary cap cries -- not unlike the "They don't have the draft capital to land Payton" BS -- will fall by the wayside. They are going to be in the game again, like it or not.
So far, the new management has shown nothing but cleaning house, writing checks and FINALLY changing the culture up there. I would not underestimate that; it's incredible what real leadership can do, and they have that for the first time in awhile.
BTW, LMMFAO @ thinking the 29th pick in the first round is a big deal to give up. I will take a proven Top 5 Head Coach over whoever that #29 pick kid ends up being all day, every day. The chances of that pick being a better decision than where Payton will take the Broncos is slim and none. But Broncos haters will hang on, for now anyway, to "OMG, they gave up a 1st rounder (way closer to a 2nd)!" We'll see soon enough, the impact and results on that exchange.
Denver is back. How far, we'll see. That D is really good and I bet if anything, they rise off this.
And if the offense stays healthy, Payton will have them in a whole other realm than last year. Count on it. Denver is not an easy out anymore. No way.
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Ministry of Pain
Footballguy
Tom Brady
Bracie Smathers
Footballguy
I think its a good move considering how limited their options were. Most of the better coaching candidates weren't interested given you'd be married to Wilson's contract. Reports are that they took a big run at DeMeco Ryans and he turned them down for the big project that is the Texans.
Denver has a top defense that was one of the best in the league until they gave up on the season and Hackett. That Xmas game against the Rams the whole team just finally completely folded, it was sad to witness such an implosion. They've got a lot of promising young talent at the skill positions if they can just get healthy and stay that way. Same with the offensive line which was missing the starting LT for most of the season and starting a patchwork of guys at other spots, currently they don't have a RT under contract for next year. They've got to improve the o'line if the offense is going to have a shot to play much better.
If there's anything remaining in Wilson and Payton can tap into it and tailor an offense around it they should be a solid team again, maybe not a favorite considering how stacked the AFC currently is but definitely in the mix of things.
Denver has a top defense that was one of the best in the league until they gave up on the season and Hackett. That Xmas game against the Rams the whole team just finally completely folded, it was sad to witness such an implosion. They've got a lot of promising young talent at the skill positions if they can just get healthy and stay that way. Same with the offensive line which was missing the starting LT for most of the season and starting a patchwork of guys at other spots, currently they don't have a RT under contract for next year. They've got to improve the o'line if the offense is going to have a shot to play much better.
If there's anything remaining in Wilson and Payton can tap into it and tailor an offense around it they should be a solid team again, maybe not a favorite considering how stacked the AFC currently is but definitely in the mix of things.
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Dr. Octopus
Footballguy
Is he that? Who else did he mold outside of Brees (who was already good when he came to NO.
This is a legit question - am I missing some one?
Dr. Octopus
Footballguy
They do?
Doug B
Footballguy
The stats won't jump out at you, but Payton can take credit for maxing our Kerry Collins and Quincy Carter (I know, I know). Not turning them into studs, but getting the most possible out of them.
Then Tony Romo blossomed under Payton in Dallas. I think Brees was at a career crossroads when he got to New Orleans, and was by no means guaranteed a HOF career had he chosen Miami or been retained in San Diego.
Lastly, Saints' backups behind Brees performed well when called upon -- again, not statistical freaks, but efficient, winning football with Teddy Bridgewater, Taysom Hill, and Jameis WInston. Even Luke McCown in his one Saints start.
Dr. Octopus
Footballguy
I don't think he can really pad his resume as a QB whisperer based on that.
Sure - but Brees was actually very good in his last season in San Diego and was considered a "prize" on the free agent market (with the exception of Miami). Yes, Brees thrived in Payton's system - but to me that doesn't mean he made Brees.
I do think Payton is a great coach and defended him against some one that implied he "sucked" post-Brees, so I do acknowledge his success with marginal guys like Bridgewater, Winston and Hill - but once again does that make him a QB whisperer? I think it makes him a good coach that can win a little more often than not even with average QB play.
Wilson looked horrible last season. Was that due to poor schemes/play calling. Sure, that's possible - but he was starting to show some signs of decline is Seattle. I'm not hopeful Wilson isn't cooked. This seems like a bunch of 8-9, 9-8, 10-7 seasons ahead at best - followed by many years of irrelevancy due to trading away all of their draft picks.
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worrierking
Footballguy
As a Saints fan, I'm happy with this return.
I'll miss Payton, who I went to school with at EIU (not that he remembers that), as he did an excellent job of finding players with singular skills that he could exploit. Too many coaches/GMs would look at a guy like Taysom Hill and say, "he can't pass the ball, he has no future," while Payton saw that he had skills that he could utilize on a limited basis with success. He is great at that.
I'll miss Payton, who I went to school with at EIU (not that he remembers that), as he did an excellent job of finding players with singular skills that he could exploit. Too many coaches/GMs would look at a guy like Taysom Hill and say, "he can't pass the ball, he has no future," while Payton saw that he had skills that he could utilize on a limited basis with success. He is great at that.
Doug B
Footballguy
Your term, not mine.
Payton consistently gets the most out of the talent in front of him -- most especially, the QB he is dealt. To me, he gets credit for getting to the Super Bowl with Kerry Collins and going 10-6 with Quincy Carter starting 16 games. He doesn't get demerits for not turning Collins and Carter into elite QBs.
EDIT: Also, in the contexts of their careers ... Collins and Carter were at their personal bests under Sean Payton. Not elevated to elite status, no, but most certainly elevated. More because Payton successfully built offenses around the skills those guys had, as opposed to somehow turning guys like Collins and Carter into wholly different players.
Dr. Octopus
Footballguy
- no. It was the post I replied to, that you then stepped into.
psychobillies
Footballguy
Just for perspective regarding Payton/Brees. Payton was suspended for the entire 2012 season.
2011 13-3
2012 7-9
2013 11-5
2011 13-3
2012 7-9
2013 11-5
sho nuff
Footballguy
His record is nearly identical to that of Mike McCarthy (including playoffs and SB).
Hot Sauce Guy
Footballguy
Their only 2023 1st & a 2024 2nd?
Seems steep to me.
Especially with Russ taking up way too much cap.
That said, IMO Payton is going to do what Pete Carroll did, and limit Russ. We’ve seen what “let Russ cook” results in. Payton will have that run game clicking, and work off PA to get the ball downfield.
Less will be more, and the Broncos should be competitive. Hackett’s biggest mistake was believing he could put the offense on Wilson’s arm.
Then he tried to trade for him as soon as he got the Saints job. I believe offered a third which does say a lot about Peyton's eye for QB talent to offer a third for a UDFA who had not yet played. I guess also says something about Parcells eye for talent because he said no.
One of the many great "what-if's" because they only pivoted to Brees after the Romo deal did not get done.
ETA-I mean to add he never played a snap under Payton in Dallas so not sure I could lable that as blossoming under Payton but I would for sure label it as developing him.
Dizzy
Footballguy
I guess we'll have to see how he does after Russ retires, because the eyeball test tells me that he went from "LET HIM COOK" to "HIM COOKED" in a blink. I only needed to see Geno Smith make the Pro Bowl to show what was holding that team back.
Not many Coaching genius's out there that didn't have a stud QB to make them look that way.
Statorama
Footballguy
It'll be interesting to see who they add as DC (Brian Flores?).
Payton's a good fit for the Broncs. They have some pieces on the offensive side of the ball, and you've got a motivated veteran QB coming off an embarrassing season.
I'm no expert on the Broncos, so I don't know how deep their badness goes. But I'm telling you non-believers out there, I saw him take a bedraggled team that had fans wearing paper bags on their heads to a team that...well...looked like a real professional team in a short period. This guy sets the tone and is one of the most creative offensive minds in the NFL. If there's any gas left in the Russell Wilson tank, he'll get the most out of it. Payton is also one of those **** Vermeil types that is the first in the building and the last to leave. He'll earn every penny of that contract.
Under Payton's leadership, I can easily envision this team getting 9 wins and sneaking into the playoffs. Once you're in there it's a whole new season where anything can happen.
At a minimum, this team will look like a professional NFL team every time they step on the field - something the Broncos couldn't consistently state last year.
Payton's a good fit for the Broncs. They have some pieces on the offensive side of the ball, and you've got a motivated veteran QB coming off an embarrassing season.
I'm no expert on the Broncos, so I don't know how deep their badness goes. But I'm telling you non-believers out there, I saw him take a bedraggled team that had fans wearing paper bags on their heads to a team that...well...looked like a real professional team in a short period. This guy sets the tone and is one of the most creative offensive minds in the NFL. If there's any gas left in the Russell Wilson tank, he'll get the most out of it. Payton is also one of those **** Vermeil types that is the first in the building and the last to leave. He'll earn every penny of that contract.
Under Payton's leadership, I can easily envision this team getting 9 wins and sneaking into the playoffs. Once you're in there it's a whole new season where anything can happen.
At a minimum, this team will look like a professional NFL team every time they step on the field - something the Broncos couldn't consistently state last year.
