And we’re off. The Denver Broncos secured the No. 29 general choose within the first spherical of the 2023 NFL draft after the San Francisco 49ers had been eradicated from playoff rivalry in Sunday’s NFC championship sport loss to the Philadelphia Eagles — and that’s large information for the New Orleans Saints, who ought to be taking a look at that draft choose as a giant a part of any potential commerce for former head coach Sean Payton.
The Broncos acquired that first rounder from San Francisco after a midseason commerce despatched cross rusher Bradley Chubb to the Miami Dolphins; Miami owned the choose on the time after receiving it from the 49ers a couple of years in the past after they moved up for quarterback Trey Lance. Now it belongs to Denver.
Broncos head coach candidates have fallen out of the seek for that job one after the following. Jim Harbaugh eliminated himself from consideration to stay a school coach at Michigan, although his lack of a contract extension has prompted some hypothesis on that entrance. Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn selected to remain at his put up somewhat than pursue a chance with Denver, too. The Broncos have been stated to covet San Francisco’s defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans however he’s being drawn nearer to the Houston Texans emptiness by the hour.
And, per NFL Community’s Ian Rapoport, Denver beforehand knowledgeable candidates Raheem Morris, David Shaw, Jim Caldwell, and Ejiro Evero that they’ll be taking their head coach search in one other path. After beating the 49ers on Sunday, Philadelphia Eagles defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon instructed reporters that he received’t go away for a head coach alternative in 2023, taking him off the board after rumormongering had linked him to the Broncos.
That severely whittles down the checklist of head coach candidates for Denver, and it appears to recommend Payton is without doubt one of the final males standing. We’ll see whether or not he’s really supplied the job within the days forward, however he might do rather a lot worse than taking management of a aggressive roster with an embattled franchise quarterback. In case you’re curious, listed here are the entire Broncos draft picks in 2023 (in addition they personal every of their picks within the first 4 rounds for 2024):
- Spherical 1, choose No. 29 (from San Francisco 49ers)
- Spherical 3, choose No. 67 (from Indianapolis Colts)
- Spherical 3, choose No. 68
- Spherical 4, Choose No. 108
- Spherical 5, Choose No. 141
- Spherical 6, Choose No. 195 (from Pittsburgh Steelers)
Will that be sufficient to wrest Payton conscious from New Orleans? Let’s hope to get that query answered sooner somewhat than later.