When the Denver Broncos send a first and second round pick to the New Orleans Saints to acquire the rights to hire Sean Payton as their next head coach in early 2023, many of us balked at the high cost given the team likely needed those high draft picks to rebuild after another double-digit loss season.
The first season was a little rough at times, but Payton still guided that team to an 9-8 record and the first time since the 2019 season. Then he navigated the departure of Russell Wilson and insane dead money that came with it to defy all the odds bringing the Broncos their first playoff appearance since the 2015 season.