Which NFL teams are the most likely destinations for Sean Payton on 2023?
Sean Payton will be the hottest name on the NFL coaching staff this fall, regardless of where he ends up
The most acclaimed free agent in the League currently might not be a player.
It appears to be former New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton, who is turning heads around the NFL with many discussions on where he might end up in 2023.
Earlier this month, some of us mused about Payton and Tom Brady actually sticking together next year and potentially doing so in New Orleans; after all, Brady is a free agent after this season and he could go anywhere he wanted to. It is, however, unknown if the seven-time Super Bowl champion would even want to go through the hassle if retirement becomes a more sooner-than-later thing.
Related: Tom Brady on retirement: “I’m going to take my time”
For Payton, meanwhile, it’s a different story. The 59-year-old can simply return to the team he coached for 15 seasons and won Super Bowl XLIV with.
And while that is one way of looking at things, there is a whole other scheme seemingly coming to life:
Payton’s top landing teams
According to the sportsbook Bookies.com, a new favorite has apparently emerged to land Payton, and that would be the Arizona Cardinals. The Denver Broncos come in second, followed by the Los Angeles Chargers and Dallas Cowboys.
Interestingly enough, three of those teams above are not currently hiring coaches, let alone head coaches- with the Broncos being the only exception. The Cardinals’ head coach, Kliff Kingsbury, signed a five-year extension with Arizona before this season, keeping him around through 2027.
However, as the 4-11 team continues to struggle, there are many speculations about Kingsbury being fired or even walking away on his own.
If that happens, Arizona would seem like an attractive destination for Payton. We’ll just have to wait and see...