The Broncos making playoffs is more than just a dream, but the reality is this: Sean Payton gets paid an $18 million salary to get R done, and Denver doesn’t have a spare draft pick to throw at the Los Angeles Rams for oft-injured Cooper Kupp, whose best NFL days are behind him.

With the NFL trade deadline on Nov. 5 rapidly approaching, the rumor mill is cranking up.

The Broncos are now the subject of gossip as buyers? My, oh, my. A month ago, who would’ve thunk it?

“It’s kind of like Homecoming, two and half weeks away, and everybody’s putting out feelers,” Payton said Wednesday, comparing the trade chatter among NFL general managers at this time of year to getting a date to the big high-school dance.

The hottest take of this trade cycle is the Rams’ flirtation with suitors for Cupp, a 31-year-old receiver with Crazy Glue for hands. He was the most valuable player of Super Bowl LVI, but hasn’t played more than 12 games in a season since 2021 and will again struggle to surpass that modest mark again this year, after battling an ankle injury.

Would Kupp look good in a Denver uniform? Of course.

But what’s the likelihood of the Broncos getting a date with Kupp? Well, I’m more likely to be seen at a Halloween soiree alongside Halle Berry wearing a catwoman costume.

With the Rams reportedly seeking a second-round choice for Kupp, the Broncos trading for him probably makes for better clickbait than common sense. Or have you forgotten the $53 million dead cap hit Denver is taking this season for quarterback Russell Wilson to throw passes in Pittsburgh?

It made sense for Kansas City to trade for receiver DeAndre Hopkins because the Chiefs are primed and ready to go for a three-peat, if they can find quarterback Patrick Mahomes a reliable target other than Taylor Swift’s boyfriend.

Broncos rookie Bo Nix ranks 30th in the league with a 61.2 completion percentage, just ahead of Mason Rudolph and Tyler Huntley. He’s not ready for expensive toys, although maybe a trade for a bargain-priced tight end would make sense for Denver.

But if this team is going to make the playoffs, as a knucklehead like me predicted before the season, Denver is going to get there on the strength of a disruptive defensive line, a stout rushing attack and one more thing:

The coaching acumen of Payton.

While Payton is so stubborn he might refuse to make his quarterback RPO Bo and lean on the rookie’s dual-threat talents because somebody like me thought of the idea before a highly-compensated coach with a Super Bowl ring, I do feel compelled to give Payton his flowers.

In the 17-game marathon that is the NFL season, September is for figuring out what your team does best. October serves as a month of significant movement in the standings, with contenders beginning to produce a sample size to be trusted and the fatal flaws of pretenders being exposed.

“You’re ascending or you’re not,” Payton said. “And if you’re not, you’re probably descending.”

Denver fashioned a 2-2 record in September. With hapless Carolina coming to town, the Broncos have a real shot to be 3-1 in October.

Beat the Panthers and it will be the latest in the season the Broncos have been two games over .500 since 2016.

One of the best measures of a coach: Does the team improve as the season progresses?

On Sept. 17, after Denver had dropped to 0-2 and its offense looked inept at home in a loss to the Steelers, Payton was listed in Las Vegas as not-worth-talking-about 7000:1 longshot as coach of the year.

A little more than a month later, Payton has figured out how to get around the onerous dead-cap hit and win with a rookie quarterback.

Although Kevin O’Connell of Minnesota and Dan Quinn of Washington are the favorites to win coach of the year, Payton is now a hmm-that’s-tempting 1200:1 dark horse to sneak into serious conversation for the award.

And should he find the way to earn this Denver team a playoff spot, Payton would be worth every penny of his $18 million salary.