Sean Payton speaking (left). JJ McCarthy being interviewed (right).Sean Payton and JJ McCarthy (Photos via @BroncosAve Twitter and Minnesota Vikings)

Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton just admitted that he trolled the Minnesota Vikings by convincing the NFC North club that they had to move up to select Michigan quarterback JJ McCarthy.

Both the Broncos and Vikings had been widely linked to McCarthy leading up to the 2024 NFL Draft. Minny moved up one spot via the New York Jets to select McCarthy 10th overall, while Sean Payton got his man in Oregon’s Bo Nix at No. 12.

Speaking to reporters after the first round of the draft, Payton revealed that he tricked the Vikings into thinking that they were looking to trade up. This clearly scared Minnesota, who moved up to secure McCarthy.

“I was actively involved in trying to pretend we were moving forward,” Payton said with a smile on his face.”

Minnesota wound up trading the No. 11, No. 129 and No. 157 picks to the Jets in exchange for No. 10 and No. 11. The Jets were never going to pursue a quarterback with Aaron Rodgers already in the fold, and they wound up addressing an organizational need by snagging Penn State offensive lineman Olumuyiwa Fashanu.

Six quarterbacks were taken in round one yesterday: Caleb Williams (Chicago Bears), Jayden Daniels (Washington Commanders), Drake Maye (New England Patriots), Michael Penix Jr. (Atlanta Falcons), McCarthy and Nix.

Sean Payton Gets His Guy

It was evident all of last season that Sean Payton wasn’t sold on Russell Wilson as the Broncos’ long-term solution at quarterback.

But the renowned “quarterback guru” now has the guy he wants in Bo Nix, whose accuracy and touch on the football has drawn comparisons to Drew Brees. Payton and Brees had a glorious 15-year run together, so if Nix can be half of what Brees in New Orleans, then the Broncos will be in good hands.

The Broncos have been stuck in quarterback purgatory since Peyton Manning’s retirement eight years ago. We’ll find out in the coming years if a Payton-Nix combination is what the organization needs to finally return to relevance.