Look, we’re just as surprised to be discussing this as you are. But it might actually pass master. The Houston Texans are far from the ideal landing spot Sean Payton has spoken about as he searches for his next NFL coaching gig — between meddling ownership, annual power struggles in their front office, and having fired two head coaches in as many years, they’re a model of instability. Why would the former New Orleans Saints head coach even take their call?
Let’s peel back the layers on this onion a bit. For one thing, Payton has the greatest chances of not undercutting himself in Houston as compared to the Arizona Cardinals or Denver Broncos openings. The Texans own a pair of picks in the first round this year at Nos. 2 and 12 overall, and one of those (probably No. 12) would be going back to New Orleans in a trade. Payton could approve a move to Houston and still have his pick of quarterbacks with C.J. Stroud and Bryce Young on the board. Plus, they’re under the projected 2023 salary cap by more than $39 million.
That’s substantial. Between a healthy salary cap situation and a bevy of draft assets after the Cleveland Browns sold out for Deshaun Watson last year, Payton would be able to completely revamp that roster in a very winnable division. He wouldn’t be facing the likes of Patrick Mahomes and Justin Herbert twice a year in the AFC South. If Houston is willing to give him the personnel control he enjoyed in New Orleans while meeting his salary demands, it makes sense.
We’ve seen them do it before. Bill O’Brien called all of the shots in his seven-year run with the Texans, and they could set up a similar arrangement for Payton. Is that likely? Do the potential benefits outweigh the toxicity rampant within that organization? Those aren’t questions we’re able to answer, but they’re likely on Payton’s mind as he prepares for meeting with Houston’s ownership in the weeks ahead. The only certainty here is that we can’t blithely rule out the Texans. Payton isn’t doing that, and neither should we.