The Panthers are the latest team to enter the Sean Payton lottery.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that the Saints on Sunday allowed the Panthers to interview Payton when the head coaching vacancy became available.
The Cardinals, Broncos and Texans are also interested in interviewing Payton. The Colts are another team currently looking for a head coach.
Payton is still under contract with the Saints, who have offered the inquiring team an idea of their asking price to secure Payton’s rights.
Since they are in the same division, the Panthers must pay more than the other three teams that were allowed to interview Payton. Carolina has the ninth overall pick and an additional second-round pick from the Christian McCaffrey trade.
The Broncos got their first chance to interview Payton, with the meeting scheduled for Tuesday in Los Angeles.
Payton, 59, went 152-89 in the regular season, 9-8 in the playoffs and won a Super Bowl in 15 seasons in New Orleans. He left coaching this season to work for Fox, but looks ready to return to coaching.
Report: Panthers get permission to interview Sean Payton originally appeared on Pro Football Talk
