The Sean Payton interview tour will continue Thursday, this time with the Arizona Cardinals, according to multiple media reports.
This would be Payton’s fourth interview this offseason after the former New Orleans Saints head coach met with the Denver Broncos, Carolina Panthers and Houston Texans. The only other team without a head coach Payton hasn’t met with yet is the Indianapolis Colts.
The Cardinals locked up quarterback Kyler Murray this past offseason, though he’ll be recovering from an ACL tear sustained earlier this season. The Cardinals also recently hired former Tennessee Titans and New England Patriots executive Monti Ossenfort as the team’s new general manager.
Are the Cardinals the best landing spot for Payton?
There are still a lot of uncertainties on the roster and it’s unclear how much control Payton would be looking for in shaping the team. Payton might prefer a team either with more veterans (like the Broncos) or more ambiguity and thus more room for molding (like the Panthers or Texans). Arizona also plays in the always-competitive NFC West, which is a much harder division than, say the NFC South (which Payton coached in for years) or the AFC South.
It will cost a lot to get Payton as well. Any team would likely have to give the Saints at least a first-round draft pick for the ability to hire him. Payton also reportedly wants a four-year deal worth $20 million to $25 million per season.
There is also the ever-looming possibility that the Dallas Cowboys head coaching job opens up after Mike McCarthy failed to lead the team further in the playoffs. Though, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones reiterated after the divisional loss to the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday night that his faith in McCarthy hadn’t changed after the defeat.
In the interim, though, Payton will have his choice of teams he’d be willing to coach next season.