NFL Trade Verdict

New Orleans Saints Win

Denver sent premium draft compensation to New Orleans for the right to hire Sean Payton, choosing an accomplished Super Bowl-winning coach to stabilize the post-Wilson era. The Payton compensation deal was Denver’s attempt to stabilize the franchise after the Wilson collapse. Coach trades are difficult to grade because the return is leadership and infrastructure rather than player production, but Denver paid a real premium for a Super Bowl-winning coach with the authority to reset the program. The move belongs among the major post-Elway organizational decisions.

January 31, 2023 Denver BroncosNew Orleans Saints Confidence: high Tier: major

Denver Broncos Received

New Orleans Saints Received

Trade Summary

Denver sent premium draft compensation to New Orleans for the right to hire Sean Payton, choosing an accomplished Super Bowl-winning coach to stabilize the post-Wilson era. The Payton compensation deal was Denver’s attempt to stabilize the franchise after the Wilson collapse. Coach trades are difficult to grade because the return is leadership and infrastructure rather than player production, but Denver paid a real premium for a Super Bowl-winning coach with the authority to reset the program. The move belongs among the major post-Elway organizational decisions.

Trade Analysis

Denver sent premium draft compensation to New Orleans for the right to hire Sean Payton, choosing an accomplished Super Bowl-winning coach to stabilize the post-Wilson era. The Payton compensation deal was Denver’s attempt to stabilize the franchise after the Wilson collapse. Coach trades are difficult to grade because the return is leadership and infrastructure rather than player production, but Denver paid a real premium for a Super Bowl-winning coach with the authority to reset the program. The move belongs among the major post-Elway organizational decisions. New Orleans Saints received 2023 1st round pick (29th overall, Bryan Bresee) and 2024 2nd round pick (45th overall subsequently traded, Edgerrin Cooper) and gave up Sean Payton and 2024 3rd round pick (81st overall subsequently traded, Christian Haynes).