Broncos got a bargain with Sean Payton’s reported salary

The Denver Broncos apparently under-paid for head coach Sean Payton given recent reports of his contract details. 

Former New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton was recently acquired by the Denver Broncos for a hefty sum, but new reports suggest Denver got a bargain for him.

This past week, Payton was plucked away from the Saints in a lucrative trade package in which Denver received their future head coach and a 2024 third-rounder. NOLA received a 2023 first-rounder and 2024 second-rounder in return.

Many believe the trade works the most in the Saints’ favor as the Saints essentially traded in their old coach for a premier haul of draft picks.

After getting fleeced by the Philadelphia Eagles in an ill-judged trade last offseason, New Orleans were headed into the 2023 NFL Draft without a single first-round pick. The Saints recouped some of their lost draft capital in the Payton trade, but some could consider the Broncos to be winners as well.

Denver Broncos didn’t have to empty their wallets to get Sean Payton

During his prowl for a head coaching position, Payton was reportedly looking for a salary in the $20 to $25 million-a-year range. Per a recent report, the Broncos ended up paying him $85 million over five years, which comes out to $17 million a year.

That $85 million still isn’t chump change, but it suggests that Payton wanted the job badly enough to take a significant pay cut.

For his part, Payton will have his work cut out for him in trying to piece back together a broken Broncos franchise. Russell Wilson recorded a career-worst season in his first year in Denver, throwing 16 touchdowns against 11 interceptions and completing just over 60 percent of his passes.

Many years removed from his best campaigns in Seattle, Wilson won’t turn into a playoff-contending quarterback overnight, but having a stabilizing figure like Sean Payton in his corner could make his time in Denver much more pleasant.