Broncos head coach Sean Payton has signed another former Saints player, this time a pass rusher, to his new team.
The exodus of the New Orleans Saints has begun, and Sean Payton has successfully lured several players to the dark side.
A day after running back Tony Jones Jr. signed with DenverSaints wideout Marquez Callaway is apparently following Payton to the AFC West to play with Russell Wilson.
As reported first ESPN’s Jeremy FowlerCallaway is set to join the Denver Broncos this offseason after spending the last three years in NOLA.
Callaway started a career-high 11 games in 2021, Payton’s final year as the Saints’ head coach, and he passed for nearly 700 yards and six touchdowns and finished the season as the team’s leading receiver.
He now joins an elite wide receiver unit that includes Courtland Sutton, Tim Patrick and potential trade candidate Jerry Judy. Barring a trade or injury to those starters, Callaway will likely serve in a depth role at most.
Sean Payton recruited former Saints WR Marques Callaway to play in Denver
As for outfielder interest in the Broncos, make no mistake. The bait is Sean Payton, not Russell Wilson.
Callaway is headed to the toughest division in football, not necessarily to catch passes from the Russian, but to continue to be coached by one of the greatest minds in NFL history.
Saints youngsters Chris Olave and Rasheed Shahid thrived in Michael Thomas’ absence last year; With Thomas hopefully back as a WR1 in 2023, Callaway would still play second fiddle.
With the Broncos, he will work under his former coach and leave behind his tumultuous career in New Orleans. Callaway and Tre’Quan Smith were two underutilized targets who were slowly weaned off last year’s team (Callaway started just three games and 16 catches), and he could get a breath of fresh air in the Mile High City. .
All in all, it’s a sweet reunion for Peyton and Callaway. Celebrate the small victories now. Denver might not get as many of those when the 2023 season rolls around.