Panthers linked with Sean Payton after firing of Matt Rhule

Sean Payton. Andrew Wevers-USA TODAY Sports

Panthers again linked with Sean Payton after firing of Matt Rhule

By Zac Wassink | Last updated 10/10/22

In May, then-Carolina Panthers head coach Matt Rhule insisted that team owner David Tepper assured him there was nothing to rumors linking the organization with former New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton.

However, the Panthers officially parted ways with Rhule on Monday coming off a 37-15 home loss to the San Francisco 49ers that dropped Carolina to 1-4 on a disappointing campaign. Almost immediately after that story broke, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported that "Payton will likely be at the top" of any list of future options for the Panthers. Rapoport added, though, that the Saints have Payton's rights secured until 2024 and likely won't be keen on sending the one-time Super Bowl champion coach to a division foe at a discounted rate.

Carolina would have to pay the price to keep him in the division. As they say, everything has a price. https://t.co/a5zC3dcjGs
— Nick Underhill (@nick_underhill) October 10, 2022

Meanwhile, Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio also touched upon the idea of the Panthers pursuing Payton at some point before the next NFL offseason.

"The Saints won’t want to hand their former head coach to a division rival, unless the Saints receive an offer they can’t refuse," Florio wrote. "Payton will want at least $20 million per year, final say over the roster, and a clear path to having a quarterback who will help the team contend. And while the Panthers are on track to earn a high selection in the draft, the Saints may want that top-five pick for Payton."

It had been thought that Dallas Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones would look to land Payton this coming winter, but current head coach Mike McCarthy has Dallas at 4-1 heading into the Week 6 "Sunday Night Football" game at the unbeaten division-rival Philadelphia Eagles.

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