In the competitive world of NFL drafts, psychological tactics and strategic bluffs can play just as crucial a role as the physical attributes and skills of the players being selected. A vivid example of this occurred during the 2024 NFL Draft, when Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton admitted to employing a bluff to influence the Minnesota Vikings’ drafting strategy.

After the Atlanta Falcons made a surprising move by picking Michael Penix Jr. at the No. 8 spot, the drafting atmosphere was tense, with teams reassessing their strategies due to the unexpected shift in player availability. In this high-stakes environment, Payton executed a strategic feint, claiming to be interested in moving up in the draft.

Payton’s ploy was to make the Vikings believe that the Broncos were set to select quarterback J.J. McCarthy, thereby baiting Minnesota into trading up to secure the player. The Vikings, aiming to outmaneuver Denver, traded their fourth and fifth-round picks to the New York Jets to move up to the No. 10 spot and successfully draft McCarthy, who was the consensus fourth-best quarterback in the draft.

“I was actively involved in trying to pretend we were moving forward,” Payton said, revealing his tactic to the media with a chuckle, even though the rationale seemed to fall flat among the attending media members.

Meanwhile, the Broncos ended up selecting Bo Nix with the 12th overall pick, following the Vikings’ move. This sequence of events led to speculation that Payton’s comments might have been a cover for a failed attempt to trade up with the Jets himself. Regardless, the Broncos had ostensibly little to gain directly from this faux trade-up scenario, while their AFC counterpart, the Jets, reaped the benefits from the Vikings’ trade.

The repercussions of these draft day maneuvers are multifaceted. On one hand, the Vikings secured their target, McCarthy, albeit at the cost of additional picks. On the other, Payton’s revelation about his bluff adds an intriguing layer to his reputation as a strategist, perhaps signaling to other teams that future negotiations might involve similar psychological tactics.

This incident highlights the intricate dance of deceit and strategy that can take place behind the scenes at the NFL draft, where a single decision can affect the fates of multiple teams and the careers of the players involved.