3 teams that should start preparing an offer for Sean Payton

Sean Payton may only be out of the NFL for one season, but the New Orleans Saints would have to trade away his rights first.

It seems as though Sean Payton’s NFL coaching retirement may have only been to get out of a bad situation with the New Orleans Saints.

15 years is a long time anywhere, but things may have run their course for Payton in New Orleans. The front office kicked the financial can down the road as far and for as long as it could. Eventually, the rent was due. The Saints made financial moves to compromise their future years ago … and here we are. Perhaps trading away Payton’s rights is a way to help recoup some precious capital?

Should Payton not return to the Saints in 2023, here are three teams that do make a ton of sense.

Sean Payton NFL rumors: 3 teams that make sense besides New Orleans Saints

Arizona Cardinals have Kyler Murray and Michael Bidwill as huge assets for them

Admittedly, it is going to cost a premium for any NFC team to trade for Payton’s right in-conference. Conversely, it may be too punitive for New Orleans to part ways with the greatest head coach in franchise history like this. If he went to an NFC team and dominated, it would look especially terrible for what is left of the Saints. But we cannot rule out the Arizona Cardinals here.

Of all the potential jobs opening up in the NFC, this one makes the most sense for both parties. Arizona is not going anywhere with Kliff Kingsbury as their head coach. The Cardinals probably parting ways with longtime general manager Steve Keim at the end of the season. Although they may promote his successor from within, the opportunity to bring Payton into the fold is too good.

While the front office may be a mess to some degree, Arizona has a strong owner in Michael Bidwill, one who has been committed to winning for two decades now. Arizona may be tied at the hip to the mercurial talent that is Kyler Murray, but keep in mind that Payton had his best success with a diminutive quarterback throwing dimes from the pocket in Drew Brees. There is a fit here.

Arizona could look to replace Kingsbury with Byron Leftwich, but Payton is the proven commodity.