Denver Broncos Closing In On Landing Sean Payton As Their Next Head Coach

Sean Payton is the Denver Broncos choice to be their next head coach. While the sides have a basic understanding on a contract, the negotiations on that continue, a source told OutKick on Tuesday.

There are still final details to iron out on the deal but it is believed Payton will be one of the highest paid coaches in the NFL, if not the highest, the source said.

This has been two-pronged negotiation for the Broncos.

They obviously had to identify Payton as their top choice out of eight candidates and that included picking him over Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh, who interviewed twice with the club, including once in person.

That's done. Payton is the team's choice.

Then came the negotiation part.

Because Payton is still under contract to the New Orleans Saints that was a bit more complex than most coach deals. Because the Broncos had to negotiate for the right to sign Payton.

The Broncos have indeed acquired Payton in trade.

That part with the Saints is already agreed upon, according to a league source.

The compensation to New Orleans is a first-round pick in the April draft and a second-round pick in 2024. The Saints will return to the Broncos a 2024 third-round pick.

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Armando Salguero is a national award-winning columnist and is OutKick's Senior NFL Writer. He has covered the NFL since 1990 and is a selector for the Pro Football Hall of Fame and a voter for the Associated Press All-Pro Team and Awards. Salguero, selected a top 10 columnist by the APSE, has worked for the Miami Herald, Miami News, Palm Beach Post and ESPN as a national reporter. He has also hosted morning drive radio shows in South Florida.