Arizona Cardinals: Why Sean Payton probably won’t come to the desert
By Sion Fawkes
Sean Payton probably will not be the head coach of the Arizona Cardinals in 2023, given the compensation the Saints reportedly want.
While we know the Arizona Cardinals will interview Sean Payton, they can’t just hire the former New Orleans Saints head coach. With two years remaining on his contract with New Orleans, anyone looking to hire Sean Payton will need to give up some massive compensation.
The consensus is that Payton will cost any team interested in hiring him at least a first round pick. As it stands, the Cardinals hold the third overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, and with so many holes on the roster, swapping it (and more) for Payton would leave the Redbirds with even fewer draft picks.
Not that the Cardinals wouldn’t gladly swap a first, but you can expect the Saints to demand more given the way New Orleans general manager Mickey Loomis is talking. Here is what he had to say:
"Look, I think between the quarterback of the team and a head coach, no one impacts winning more than those two guys in any building. So, I know what he brings to the table, and I know that’s really valuable. And it’s our obligation to maximize that value if he chooses to coach again within that time frame where we have those rights.“We haven’t settled on exactly what the compensation is going to be. They’re well aware there is going to be compensation.”- Mickey Loomis via AZ Central."
Compensation for Payton could be too much for the Arizona Cardinals
We know a few things about the Saints, and first and foremost, they don’t have their 2023 starting quarterback on their roster. Odds are, the Saints wouldn’t trade Payton to Arizona unless that third overall pick was part of the deal so they could land someone like Bryce Young or Will Levis.
But what else would the Saints want? Surely, more than one first round pick for Payton. Perhaps DeAndre Hopkins, who the Cardinals are rumored to shop? Chris Olave was the Saints only viable receiver this past season, so don’t rule out Hopkins as being part of the potential asking price along with the third overall pick.
And what’s not to say the Saints wouldn’t want two first round picks (2023 and 2024) for Payton? Sure, you may say it worked out for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2002 when they gave up two firsts and two seconds for Jon Gruden. Problem was, the Buccaneers already had a great football team. The Arizona Cardinals went 4-13 and are an organization in disarray.
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Of course, this is all speculative, but the Saints asking price could be too high for the Cardinals to pursue Payton. We will see what the Saints final asking price is, but as it stands, it is going to take a ransom to bring Payton to the desert.
Article Source: Cardinals might have to part with a package of draft picks or players to hire Sean Payton by Bob McManaman
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