The idea of someone paying off the Saints' lottery ticket became real this week.
Or at least the thought of someone sending New Orleans draft capital for the rights to Sean Payton became a little less abstract when the Broncos requested to interview the coach this week.
The biggest question of New Orleans' upcoming offseason won't be about the future at quarterback or who replaces Marcus Davenport at edge rusher. No, it will be determining Payton's worth.
There isn't a ton of precedent for coaching trades, at least not recently. Jon Gruden was sent from the Raiders to the Buccaneers in exchange for two first-round picks and two second-round picks more than two decades ago. The Jets received a first-round pick for the rights to Bill Belichick back in 2000, and that was before he had enough success to make his raggedy hoodies famous. And the Packers got a second-round pick from the Seahawks when Mike Holmgren left for more power in Seattle, but he had an escape clause written in his contract that dictated the terms of his exit, which makes his situation an inexact comparison.
So, the precedent already set isn't all that helpful. It says New Orleans should get a decent amount, especially since there are two years left on Payton's contract, but do they get the Holmgren return or the treasure trove Tampa got for Gruden?
We polled several current and former general managers as well as some high-ranking executives to gather opinions on what Payton is worth and how the process of another team hiring him will likely work.