Since taking over as the general manager of the Denver Broncos in 2021, George Paton has been responsible for overseeing the team’s draft selections. With three draft classes under his belt, Paton will have another opportunity in April to address the team’s pressing needs and bolster an ailing roster.
Currently, the Broncos possess only six picks in total, with just two of them falling within the top one hundred selections at picks 12 and 81. This limited number of high-value picks puts added pressure on Paton to maximize the team’s draft capital and find impactful talent.
Paton’s track record in the draft has been a mixed bag thus far, and the success of the 2024 draft becomes crucial for the team given the significant roster gaps and restricted salary cap space resulting from Russell Wilson’s hefty contract extension in 2022.
To gain insight into how the upcoming draft might unfold, it’s worth examining Paton’s performance in his initial three draft classes and the perception surrounding those selections.
2021:
Round 1 Pick 9: Patrick Surtain II, CB, Alabama
Round 2 Pick 35: Javonte Williams, RB, North Carolina
Round 3 Pick 98: Quinn Meinerz, OL, Wisconsin-Whitewater
Round 3 Pick 105: Baron Browning, LB, Ohio State
Round 5 Pick 152: Caden Sterns, S, Texas
Round 5 Pick 164: Jamar Johnson, S, Indiana
Round 6 Pick 219: Seth Williams, WR, Auburn
Round 7 Pick 237: Kary Vincent Jr., CB, LSU
Round 7 Pick 239: Jonathon Cooper, EDGE, Ohio State
Round 7 Pick 253: Marquiss Spencer, DT, Mississippi State
Based on the provided information, it seems that the 2021 draft class under General Manager Paton was highly successful for the Denver Broncos. Patrick Surtain II, a cornerback, has been particularly outstanding, earning NFLPA First Team All-Pro honors in two of his three seasons and being regarded as one of the best corners in football. Javonte Williams has been a dominant running back, known for his aggressive running style. Quinn Meinerz, an interior offensive lineman from a small school, has developed into one of the premier players at his position in the NFL. Baron Browning has shown promise as a pass rusher but has struggled with consistency due to injury concerns. Jonathan Cooper, Browning’s college teammate, has been a reliable rotational pass rusher and has also performed well in a starting role.
According to NFL.com, the 2021 draft class of the Denver Broncos was ranked as the second-best in the league at the end of the season. It was seen as a fantastic class, particularly considering it was Paton’s first as a general manager. However, it is mentioned that the subsequent two years’ draft classes have not lived up to the same level of success.
2022:
Round 2 Pick 64: Nik Bonitto, LB, Oklahoma
Round 3 Pick 80: Greg Dulcich, TE, UCLA
Round 4 Pick 115: Damarri Mathis, CB, Pitt
Round 4 Pick 116: Eyioma Uwazurike, DT, ISU
Round 5 Pick 152: Delarrin Turner-Yell, S, Oklahoma
Round 5 Pick 162: Montrell Washington, WR, Samford
Round 5 Pick 171: Luke Wattenberg, OL, Washington
Round 6 Pick 206: Matt Henningsen, DT, Wisconsin
Round 7 Pick 232: Faion Hicks, CB, Wisconsin
According to the information provided, George Paton’s 2022 draft class for the Denver Broncos did not live up to the expectations set by his previous class. The trade for Russell Wilson, which involved giving up the Broncos’ first, second, and fifth-round picks in the 2022 draft, limited Paton’s ability to make selections on draft day.
Nik Bonitto, an edge rusher, had a relatively underwhelming first season, recording only 1.5 sacks and struggling against the run due to his lower body strength. However, he showed improvement in 2023 as a rotational player, tallying eight sacks. Despite this progress, Bonitto is not seen as a starting-caliber edge rusher.
Greg Dulcich, another player from the 2022 class, has faced injury issues, resulting in him playing in only twelve games over his two years in the NFL. When healthy, Dulcich has shown potential as a reliable target, but his availability has been a concern, making it difficult to predict his future with the Broncos.
Damarri Mathis had an impressive rookie season, stepping in for an injured Ronald Darby and posting eight passes defended and sixty-five total tackles. However, Mathis struggled in 2023 and was eventually benched around Week 7 in favor of Fabian Moreau, a street free agent, due to his poor performance.
Overall, it appears that the 2022 draft class for the Broncos did not meet expectations, and several players have faced challenges, whether it be in terms of performance, injuries, or losing their starting roles.
The remaining members of the Broncos’ draft class have not made a significant impact. Uwazurike was suspended for the 2023 season due to gambling on Broncos games and had limited playing time in his rookie year. Washington was unsuccessful as a punt returner and did not contribute much on offense. Overall, the rest of the draft class has had minimal influence on the Broncos.
The Broncos’ 2022 draft class had a negative impact on the team. It was crucial for Denver to find success with their limited number of picks, but General Manager Paton failed to do so. According to NFL.com, the Broncos’ 2022 class was ranked as the 27th best in the NFL. It can be said that their performance fell far short of expectations.
2023:
Round 2, Pick 63: Marvin Mims Jr., WR, Oklahoma
Round 3, Pick 67: Drew Sanders, LB, Arkansas
Round 3, Pick 83: Riley Moss, CB, Iowa
Round 6, Pick 183: JL Skinner, S, Boise State
Round 7, Pick 257: Alex Forsyth, C, Oregon
In 2023, George Paton, the General Manager of the Denver Broncos, faced challenges with a limited draft class. Due to previous trades involving Russell Wilson and Sean Payton, the team did not have a first-round pick and was also missing a second-round pick. Despite these limitations, the Broncos made some moves during the draft.
One notable trade involved moving up from the 68th pick to the 63rd pick by trading away the 68th and 138th picks to the Detroit Lions. With the 63rd pick, they selected Marvin Mims, a player known for his speed and kick returning abilities. However, Mims had limited involvement on offense, recording only 377 receiving yards and one touchdown. He did receive recognition as a Pro Bowl returner, but as a second-round pick, there is an expectation for him to expand his route tree and contribute more on offense.
The remaining members of the draft class had minimal impact. Drew Sanders primarily played on special teams and served as a backup to Alex Singleton and Josey Jewell. Riley Moss and JL Skinner also had limited roles on special teams, as Broncos’ defensive coordinator Vance Joseph has a tendency to not play rookies extensively. It is worth noting that the Broncos gave up a 2024 third-round pick to move up and select Moss, which raises questions about the value of the move.
This marks the second consecutive draft class with limited contributions under George Paton’s management. While he shares the responsibility with Sean Payton, who had involvement in the draft process, the overall performance of the 2023 Broncos class was deemed the worst in the league by NFL.com. Typically, consecutive underwhelming draft classes could lead to changes in the front office, but George Paton will continue working with Sean Payton for the upcoming 2024 draft.
During his three-year tenure overseeing the Broncos’ draft, George Paton has had limited success in selecting Pro Bowl players, with only two selections thus far. Out of his 24 total picks, eight have been offensive players, while the remaining 16 have been on the defensive side of the ball. This distribution of draft capital raises questions, considering the team’s offensive struggles since 2014. One would expect a greater investment in addressing the offensive shortcomings.
Heading into the 2024 draft, Paton finds himself under pressure to deliver. With just six picks at his disposal, he must make the most of them to address the numerous holes on the Denver roster. Paton’s job security has been a topic of discussion, as the team’s overall performance and the need for significant improvements have intensified the scrutiny. The upcoming draft presents a crucial opportunity for Paton to make impactful selections and alleviate some of the mounting pressure.
