Sean Payton’s method to avoid a situation like Patrick Mahomes for Bo Nix

Sean Payton has spent almost three decades in the NFL. However, the loss of Patrick Mahomes at the 2017 NFL Draft still haunts Payton. But the veteran coach was prepared and had a few tricks up his sleeve to prevent that from happening again in 2024.

In 2017, Payton had the 11th pick in the draft as the HC of the New Orleans Saints. He had calculated that the Saints would be able to scoop up Mahomes. However, the Kansas City Chiefs made a deal with the Buffalo Bills, moved up to the 10th spot and drafted Mahomes.

Throughout the years, Sean Payton has been open about this regret. However, on the “Scoop City” podcast, he highlighted the methods he used to avoid a similar fate with Bo Nix this year.

“Minnesota’s right ahead of us; the Raiders behind us”, Payton said. “Minnesota goes up one and they draft JJ, and now there’s one, and the Jets are still on the clock. And I said to George, ‘Call the Jets just call them’. We don’t want to move up unnecessarily a pick or two, but you don’t want another team to. I don’t want anyone doing a deal. I don’t want anything happening like Kansas City. Anybody can come.”

“So, we stayed on and then I think the Jets said to George, ‘You called us. What do you want?’ He goes, ‘No, I just was checking in,’” added Payton. “So, our concern right behind us were the Raiders. And then it was like, ‘Well, call the Raiders and see, tell them we might want to move back to see’. So, there was this, they didn’t want to move up. And then there’s that, minute you wait, and then we’ll stay put, and the Jets make their pick. And then here we are.” (29:51 – 30:50)

This year Payton did not get a jolt like he did for Mahomes and secured his pick without any issues.

Sean Payton is satisfied with the changes at the Broncos

This year, the Broncos caused a furor by letting superstar quarterback Russell Wilson go. However, the HC has built a roster that fits his needs and is pleased with it, he revealed in the “Scoop City” podcast.

“I would say it’s much different this year. It’s a young team, but the competition and the way practice is going is entirely different than a year ago, and it’s not any one player from a year ago.”

This is the second year at the Broncos for Payton, and the decorated HC would want to better last season’s record of 8-9 this campaign.

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