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Top NFL Teams Who Should Pursue Sean Payton

By Erik Lambert

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Sep 27, 2015; Charlotte, NC, USA; New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton on the sidelines in the fourth quarter. The Panthers defeated the Saints 27-22 at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

Finding good head coaches in the NFL are almost as hard as finding good quarterbacks.  It takes a great deal of patience, instinct and luck.  Those teams that get them are set up to win for years to come, which is why when proven ones become available they often are involved in a bidding similar to a top free agent.

Word is that could happen in 2016 with Sean Payton.

The availability of Payton may surprise some but it shouldn’t.  Most agree the only reason he is still the head coach in New Orleans is because Drew Brees is there.  With the quarterback turning 37-years old next season and his salary cap number ballooning to $30 million, it’s hard seeing the Saints going another year with him under center.  That in turn might compel Payton to move on.

If that were to happen, keep an eye on these teams as possible landing spots.

Indianapolis Colts

There is no question Payton will want to go to a team that has quarterback prospects in place already if possible.  That makes the Indianapolis Colts the ideal landing spot.  Their head coach Chuck Pagano is on the hot seat and could be on his way out after this season if the team fails to make a deep playoff run.  Then pairing Payton with Andrew Luck would be borderline cheating by NFL standards.

Miami Dolphins

Of the “multiple” teams referenced, only the Miami Dolphins are actually named.  That means their interim experiment is by no means a long-term solution.  Their quarterback Ryan Tannehill has regressed since his standout 2014 season and the team just seems to lack fire or direction.  Payton would be the perfect solution to both problems.

San Francisco 49ers

The loyalty to Jim Tomsula is admirable for the San Francisco 49ers but the reality is the man clearly has no prowess for coaching the quarterback position.  Colin Kaepernick has completely lost his way, going from a steady starter to deflated has-been in the space of one year and he’s still just 27-years old.  More and more the impact of Jim Harbaugh can be seen.  If the 49ers wish to save their investment in him, they’d be wise to end the Tomsula experiment and put Payton in charge.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Gus Bradley has approached the rebuilding of the Jacksonville Jaguars the right way.  It’s not that he’s a bad coach, but the reality is based on the usual timetable his team should be winning more by this point.  It isn’t.  If they finish out of the playoff picture again, he could be dismissed in favor of a more proven coach.  Payton would make a ton of sense and be the ideal choice to continue the development of Blake Bortles.

Next: Houston Texans Should've Stayed With Brian Hoyer

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