I can’t help but entertain the idea that Sean knows where he wants to go and wants to bring Thomas along with him as part of the trade due to Thomas’ recent restructure. Im thinking Arizona a good possibility and that #3 overall along with maybe their second or next years first would be really nice. A Stroud and Olave combination with a fresh new OC is fun to think about

Players cannot be part of any transaction for the rights to a contracted coach.

And Payton will absolutely go where HE wants to go, not to where the Saints want him to go. They only have control over where they DON'T want him to go.

Sure. And if the Saints don't receive compensation that aligns with his value then they shouldn't release his contract.

They absolutely have that option. But, it all comes down to whether they are willing to just sit on his contract for two more years and get nothing in return, or to accept whatever they can from the team Payton ultimately chooses. That team may not be in the market in the future.

Obviously. So the sense of urgency increases, as should the compensation for his services.

Yet, it remains a one on one negotiation. It may end up involving a 1st, but it may not. Or that 1st may not be a 2023 pick. It isn't a contrived "value" that sets the final parameters of the deal. It's actually the other way around. The final parameters of the deal will in the end define the actual value.

I feel the Saints are going to be willing to take whatever they can get in the end. I don't see them refusing to deal with any team outside of the division. Supposedly they have been contacted by five teams and only given three permission to talk with Payton. I'd bet Carolina and Atlanta were the other two.