Panthers coaching search: Sean Payton interview delayed, what deal could look like

The Panthers have postponed their search for a head coach following the death Thursday of FC Charlotte player Anton Woakes in a boating accident Wednesday in Miami.

Panthers owner David Tepper, who also owns Charlotte FC, his wife and other members of the search committee returned to Charlotte from New York, where they were scheduled to interview former Saints coach Sean Payton on Friday. Now joined FC Charlotte players at Bank of America Stadium on Thursday night at a vigil for Wax, who was 25 years old.

Peyton’s interview is now tentatively scheduled for Monday, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. It’s unclear how Wax’s death will affect the rest of the Panthers’ interview schedule. NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported that the Panthers had postponed their meeting with Cowboys offensive coordinator Kellen Moore. Buffalo offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey and Giants shortstop Mike Kafka had interviews scheduled around their team’s playoff games this weekend.

A Panthers spokesman declined to comment Friday when asked about the rearranged interview schedule.

While there is some uncertainty surrounding demand following this week’s tragedy, Athletic looks at what’s next and how things might play out.

Where are things with Peyton?

Payton interviewed the Broncos on Wednesday, and most in league circles believe Denver has the inside track on a coach who won a Super Bowl in New Orleans and went to the playoffs nine times in 15 years.

Colin Cowherd, Peyton’s co-star at Fox, made the announcement Thursday Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson connected with Payton — “legally, by the way, through channels” — and wants Peyton in Denver.

Wilson had a rough first season in Denver after the Broncos traded away a bunch of picks and spent a lot of money on him. Wilson completed a career-low 60.5 percent of his passes while throwing just 16 touchdowns, another personal low. How Payton views the 34-year-old quarterback may be the biggest factor in his decision.

Former Panthers linebacker Roman Harper, who played for Payton in New Orleans, said the quarterback question is a big one.

“Denver’s locker room looks a little broken. So do I want to try to fix a broken house, or would I rather just build one on my own foundation and start over?” Harper said in a phone interview this week. “Russell is much older. Or you can go with a young guy you really like.

What would it take to land Peyton?

Payton is reportedly seeking a salary in the $20 million to $25 million range, according to NOLA.com. That would make Payton, 59, one of the highest-paid coaches in the league — and perhaps on best paid.

Tepper is among the 100 richest people in the world with a net worth of $18.5 billion, according to Forbes. But even for a hedge fund manager with Tepper’s wealth, paying a coach $100 million over four or five years will hurt his billions.

It doesn’t hurt that Payton can get the NFL’s two richest ownership groups — the Broncos and Panthers — to bid for him.

But money is only part of the equation with Payton, who remains under contract with the Saints through the 2024 season. Whichever team trades for Payton — he’s already met with Denver and Houston — will have to put together an acceptable offer that likely falls somewhere in between to Payton that a mid-to-late-round pick would do it, and that to Mickey Loomis, the Saints GM said he expects to collect two picks for his Super Bowl-winning coach.

Panthers COO Nicole Tepper has completed her mandatory recruitment training and the team is now in compliance with NFL policy, according to a source.

— Joe Person (@josephperson) January 20, 2023

After landing Christian McCaffrey in San Francisco, the Panthers have the option to trade Payton. But if they send this year’s first (ninth overall selection) to New Orleans, they’ll be shopping the used side of the quarterback instead of drafting one in the top 10.

That could be a good thing if Payton identifies a veteran he’s confident will fit well in his system. But expecting Derek Carr to become Drew Brees under Payton is probably a bit optimistic. Payton’s plan at quarterback is among the main topics he will discuss with the Panthers when they finally sit down.

What can the Panthers offer?

At the start of the search, two members of the front office with other teams ranked the five open positions for Athletic. In both, Carolina was ranked first, in part because of the weak NFC South. Tampa Bay won the division with a losing record, then got smoked by Dallas in what might have been Tom Brady’s final game with the Bucks.

The Saints need a quarterback, and the Falcons are trying to figure out what they have in second-year QB Desmond Reeder. There’s a chance Payton or whoever the Panthers hire could take control of the division if they land the quarterback.

The Panthers don’t boast a full roster. They need another rusher, an explosive receiver to complement DJ Moore, a pass-catching tight end and a safety who can make plays on the ball. But general manager Scott Fitterer overhauled the offensive line last year, which should matter to an offensive coach like Payton.

Payton’s personality would suggest he would relish the chance to stick it to the Saints twice a year. But maybe it’s more appealing to start fresh with an AFC team.

Cowherd warned Payton, who likely has future broadcasting ambitions, to go to a smaller market like Charlotte and disappear. But Greg Olsen and Steve Smith have done pretty well for themselves in this area.

Payton will want a big say in roster decisions, especially on the offensive end, and will almost certainly want to bring in his own GM and staff. On the day he fired Matt Rhule, Tepper indicated that he would be reluctant to give another coach as much control as Rhule had. But he had to do it with Peyton.

Former Saints offensive lineman John Stinchcomb said Payton had the ability in New Orleans “to build and create — not just a roster, but a culture and an identity in the organization that allowed his ways, his system, his vision to excel.”

“I’m sure that’s a big part of what he appreciates,” added Stinchcombe, who is part of the Saints’ pre-season broadcast team. “Will he have the freedom to create the organization he thinks it should be?”

What about Wilkes?

It’s been more than a week since interim coach Steve Wilkes sat down with Tepper, who is said to have been impressed with the job Wilkes has done since taking over for Ruhl. Despite trading McCaffrey, offloading troubled receiver Robbie Anderson and starting three quarterbacks, the Panthers went 6-6 under Wilks and likely will make the playoffs if Jaycee Horn doesn’t break his wrist in Week 16 against Mike Evans next week in Tampa.

Was it enough to cover the threshold of Tepper’s “amazing work”? Perhaps. Wilks still has a shot, and his chances appeared to have increased when Detroit offensive coordinator Ben Johnson — thought to be Tepper’s choice, according to league sources — backed out of consideration to stay with the Lions.

Current and former players supported Wilks, including Olsen this week during a Q&A with Athletic. Add Harper to the list.

“I personally think Wilkes should get the job. My only deal is that I don’t know what Tepper is going to do, nor does anyone else. I think that’s the biggest thing, he’s going to do whatever the hell he wants to do,” said Harper, whose Carolina position coach was Wilkes.

“The players want Wilkes. Wilkes wants the job. It’s a great story,” Harper added. “For me, it’s a reprieve. Or you can take the three step back and see what we get. But it has to be a high class coach or it has to be Wilkes. If you just pick some hot coordinator, I think you’re going to lose again the fans that (Tepper) already lost.”

Harper believes what Wilkes accomplished under difficult circumstances during the three-month audition should be enough to convince Tepper.

“He won when they couldn’t. They literally couldn’t win,” he said. “Then they traded the best player. They threw the quarterback (Sam Darnold) in the trash, then brought him back and recycled him. And they were winning games … with half a team.”

When will the search end?

Before Tepper went on hiatus, it seemed reasonable to think he could have a head coach by the end of next week. It’s hard to even guess a timeline now.

The Panthers have already interviewed five candidates: Wilks, former Lions and Colts head coach Jim Caldwell, former Colts coach Frank Reich, Broncos defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero and Eagles offensive coordinator Shane Steichen.

The search could stretch even longer if Tepper latches onto one of the offensive coordinators whose team is making a deep playoff run. Under NFL rules, prospects for teams that win in the divisional round this weekend cannot interview again until Jan. 30.

As he did when he interviewed 15 candidates for the GM job, Tepper appears to be trying to be thorough and deliberate. He’s aware that he can’t take care of this rental after the swing and miss with Ruhl.

(Top photo of Sean Payton: Grant Halverson/Getty Images)