Saints GM Mickey Loomis Reportedly Open To Trading HC Sean Payton To Rams

Update:

Larry Holder of The Times-Picayune reports that the Rams expected to request permission this week to speak with Saints HC Sean Payton about their head-coaching vacancy.

Interestingly enough, a source familiar with the situation, tells Holder that Saints GM Mickey Loomis would be open to the possibility of trading Payton.

Payton and Loomis reportedly met after Sunday’s loss to the Falcons to discuss Payton’s future with the team. However, Holder’s source said that it’s still too early to know what kind of compensation the Saints would request in a trade for Payton.

Last year, Payton explored options to leave the Saints and even spoke to the Colts and 49ers, according to report.

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Ian Rapoport of NFL Media, citing multiple sources, reports that there is “mutual interest” between the Rams and current Saints HC Sean Payton.

However, a trade is likely to come down to whether Saints GM Mickey Loomis would accept “moderate compensation” for Payton in a trade with the Rams.

If that ends up being the case, Rapoport says that Payton would be the “clear front-runner” to become the Rams’ next head coach.

Rapoport mentions that the Rams and Payton have yet to work out a contract to facilitate a trade to Los Angeles. However, the Saints will have to decide if they want to keep a coach in place who would prefer to be working for another team.

It’s worth mentioning that Payton is owed $40 million by the Saints, and the ability to get out from under this contract could be appealing to the team.

Sources tell Rapoport that New Orleans is “tiring of Payton’s open flirtation with jobs and might be ready to end the era and move on as the team’s rebuild is almost complete.”

Last year, Payton was reportedly on the trading block and linked to the rams, Chargers, 49ers and Colts.

Two potential replacements for Payton in New Orleans, according to Rapoport, are Doug Marrone and Dennis Allen.

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According to Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports, there remains a “very real possibility” the Saints could trade HC Sean Payton during the offseason. If they do, La Canfora mentions Jaguars interim HC Doug Marrone as someone who will get “serious consideration” for the Saints’ job.

La Canfora says that Marrone is thought of highly by the Saints from his short stint In New Orleans and connection with QB Drew Brees. Beyond that, Marrone has prior head-coaching experience with the Bills and now with the Jaguars.

The Jaguars are still expected to interview Marrone for their head-coaching vacancy.

As for Payton, La Canfora says that the Rams are doing their due diligence on him. However, the Rams’ lack of draft picks after trading up to get QB Jared Goff could impact their ability to trade for Payton. Interestingly enough, La Canfora tosses out the Chargers as another possibility for Payton, considering that they too will be playing in Southern California.

Meanwhile, Ian Rapoport reports that the Rams and Payton have “mutual interest” and the ball is in GM Mickey Loomis‘ hands.

Should the Saints trade Payton, they would save roughly $40 million, according to La Canfora.

Payton, 52, signed a new five-year, $45 million extension with the Saints back in March after some talk that he could leave New Orleans. He’s currently under team control through the 2020 season.

Since taking over as head coach of the Saints back in 2006, Payton has led the team to a record of 94 and 65 (59.1 percent), which includes five playoff appearances and a Super Bowl title back in 2009.

We’ll have more regarding Payton’s future with the Saints as the news is available.