Jeff Duncan on Sean Payton 2023

Right.

He can also wait until he contract runs out, which I believe is the following year and sign where he pleases.
Theoretically, that's after the 2024 season - two more seasons. However, when Arians "retired" from Arizona, he sat out the final year on that contract - 2018. Then when Tampa wanted to hire him in 2019, the Cardinals said that they retained his rights and Tampa had to send a 6th round pick to get his rights because Arians was never officially terminated with time remaining on his contract. I think the same would hold true with Payton. The longer Payton is away from coaching, I believe the value of pick compensation goes down though.