With the 2026 NFL Draft kicking off this week in Pittsburgh — and watched on millions of TVs around the globe — long-time NFL coach Sean Payton joined this week’s episode of GOLF’s Subpar podcast to discuss exactly what it’s like in the lead-up to the draft and what happens in the team room during it.
Payton, the current head coach of the Denver Broncos, was the New Orleans Saints coach from 2006 to 2021, and he led the Saints to a Super Bowl victory in 2009.
But the NFL Draft often aligns with Zurich Classic of New Orleans week on the PGA Tour, and one year, in 2017, Payton had some company in the Saints’ draft night war room: Jordan Spieth and Ryan Palmer.
On this week’s Subpar, Payton explained how that moment came to life — especially with two Texans and lifelong Dallas Cowboys fans. Payton played in the Zurich pro-am with Spieth and Palmer that year, and he extended them an invite for Thursday’s first round of the draft.
But before the draft even started, they had a little fun, too.
“I think Spieth made [caddie Michael] Greller run a 100-yard dash wearing a helmet,” Payton said. “And not a 40 — a 100.”
Payton set up the visitors with a table in the draft room, handed them draft books and let them take in the action. The Saints had the 11th pick and a big decision to make: cornerback Marshon Lattimore or quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
“Lattimore was a candidate; Patrick certainly was a candidate,” Payton said. “We had been to their pro days, been to their private workouts. And if you are picking 11, the old adage is you better have 11 players you like, or you trade back … there’s been a lot of back and forth on who would have been selected.”
But the Saints never had to choose between the two. The Kansas City Chiefs swooped in at No. 10 and traded with Buffalo to take Mahomes. That meant the Saints took Lattimore.
“Right when they made that trade I knew it had to be for Patrick,” Payton said. “…Those guys had a chance to see it live.”
Lattimore was voted NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year and made four Pro Bowls in his 7 1/2 years with the Saints. Mahomes? He has three Super Bowl MVPs.
For more from Payton, including what it’s like in the lead-up to the draft, you can listen to the episode here or watch on YouTube below.
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