Saints news: Sean Payton asking price, All-Pro votes, Chris Olave makes history

Numerous NFL teams continue to show interest in former New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton with the Denver Broncos seemingly seen as the early front-runner.

Of course, if Payton is to join a new team, the Saints will first have to trade him. General manager Mickey Loomis made that abundantly clear on Friday when he insisted it was his job to "maximize" Payton's value.

NFL insider Benjamin Allbright provided a bit of insight into what that value might be. Allbright reported on Friday that the asking price for Payton "is a first round draft pick and additional pick."

The Saints are looking to secure at least two draft picks for Payton, including a first-rounder. Loomis isn't messing around — he realizes the Saints hold all the cards in this situation. The high asking price is proof of that.

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Demario Davis the lone Saints All-Pro representative

The Associated Press All-Pro teams were released on Friday and the Saints had one lone representative — linebacker Demario Davis. This marks the third year in a row that Davis has been named second-team All-Pro.

Davis finished with 41 total points and eight first-team votes (first-team votes count for three points, second-team counts for one point), but it wasn't enough to earn him a spot on the first team.

Three other Saints players received votes but failed to make either All-Pro team. Safety Tyrann Mathieu earned 13 points including two first-team votes, long snapper Zach Wood received 23 points and two first-place votes, and special-teamer J.T. Gray received one singular vote.

Davis was also the lone Saints representative in this year's Pro Bowl. The 11-year NFL veteran remains one of the best linebackers in football even at the age of 34.

Chris Olave makes history

One of the few bright spots in an otherwise forgettable year for the Saints in 2022 was rookie wide receiver Chris Olave. Olave finished with 72 catches for 1,042 yards and four touchdowns in 15 games, establishing himself as one of the best young wide receivers in football.

He wasn't the only rookie Ohio State standout, however. In fact, Olave and New York Jets rookie Garrett Wilson became the first pair of receivers from the same school to both reach 1,000 yards as rookies in NFL history.

Wilson and Olave are two of the top candidates to be named Offensive Rookie of the Year this season and it's easy to see why. Both Ohio State products put together outstanding rookie campaigns.