Why Sean Payton must consider Texans as a real NFL return option for him

The Houston Texans could be the best long-term landing spot for Sean Payton in an NFL return.

Though the New Orleans Saints would have to trade away his rights this offseason, Sean Payton could be coaching an NFL team near you, possibly the Houston Texans.

No doubt about it, there are better options out there upon first glance. However, if there is a potential diamond in the rough when it comes to Payton’s re-entry point into the NFL, it is hard to top what the Texans could have coming down the pipeline, so to speak. Yes, this team absolutely stinks, but Houston has the financial resources and the draft capital to land the “free agent” coach.

Here is why Payton has to seriously look at going to the Texans if he wants to be a coach in 2023.

Sean Payton needs to at least consider the Houston Texans for his NFL return

Houston is the worst team in the league. The Texans have won one game under Lovie Smith. Although parting ways with him after one season would look terrible, just like it was parting ways with David Culley after one season a year ago, you cannot put a price on potentially landing the best head-coaching option out there. Acquiring Payton would help the Texans get back to good.

Realistically, if Payton were to get back into coaching, he would want to go to a team where he has a star quarterback. Although Davis Mills is not that, Houston projects to have the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. Payton would then be able to select either Bryce Young out of Alabama or C.J. Stroud out of Ohio State. The best part is the Texans would not have to trade away the No. 1 pick…

This is because the Texans also have the Cleveland Browns’ first-round pick from the Deshaun Watson trade. The precedent has been set that a Super Bowl-winning head coach will cost a team a first-round pick. Because Payton is better than Jon Gruden was at his coaching apex, it may cost the Texans more than just the Browns’ 2023 first-round pick. This is all about making the deal real.

If the Texans have to give up a future first-round pick, 2024 or beyond, or other draft capital in the 2023 NFL Draft, so what? Houston will have Payton aligning with either Stroud or Young, the two critical pieces in building a championship contender around. Free agents will want to play on a team quarterbacked by either Stroud or Young, as well as one led by the hall-of-fame head coach.

The other big key besides draft capital, financial resources and the potential to select a franchise cornerstone under center that Houston offers is this: The Texans play in the AFC South! This has never been a banner division, top to bottom. In a way, Payton might be able to run roughshod on this historically toothless division, much like he did during his previous run over in the NFC South.

Yes, the Jacksonville Jaguars have Doug Pederson and the Tennessee Titans have Mike Vrabel. However, Tennessee’s narrow championship window is closing sooner rather than later and when was the last time the Jaguars were a well-run operation, year over year? At least when Bill O’Brien was the head coach, Houston won double-digit games annually and raised division title banners…

Ultimately, other franchises may offer more glitz and glamor initially over Houston. However, this might be the best landing spot for Payton long-term, all things equal. He can build a team from the ground up, much like he did coming over to the Saints from the Dallas Cowboys nearly two decades ago. Let’s also factor in the Saints and Texans being regular preseason game opponents.

Payton may not want to coach for Cal McNair, but Houston should be a sleeper candidate, alright.