Sean and Mickey are super tight friends.

Yeah. That’s the big thing that has been annoying me when talking to 99% of Saints fans. I can’t remember if it was last off-season or at the beginning of this season but I remember reading something that basically said Payton would be allowed to pick his next gig and that Loomis would get fair compensation but he wasn’t going to play hardball since they are such close friends.

Now the vast majority of Saints fans seem to be thinking they are going to drive up the price to a top 10 pick, 2 first rounders, etc. because “the Saints need big assets for a rebuild.” He’s going to be swapped for a package that comes out to be worth a pick in the mid-20s to mid-30s.

Payton isn’t forcing himself out for less and Loomis isn’t holding him hostage for more.

The only way that really changes is if none of the teams offer a package with that value. Then who knows what will happen. Probably depends how much under the offer is. Like a team offering pick #40 might be able to make a deal but I doubt #67 gets it done as an example.