Broncos: Top 11 takeaways from George Paton’s pre-free agency presser

New Denver Broncos general manager George Paton addressed the media on Thursday along with head coach Vic Fangio, and while his press conference barely lasted 10 minutes, he gave the media and Broncos Country a lot to chew on.

Like a calm quarterback facing down an all-out blitz, Paton answered questions in a rapid-fire fashion clearly and succinctly. Although Paton is a first-year GM, it’s abundantly clear that he’s not a rookie on the job.

He’s adjusting to life leading an NFL franchise quite well it would seem, and he’s doing so while running a tight ship. It’s pretty amazing that with just five days before the franchise tag deadline and 11 days before the “legal tampering” period of free agency that virtually none of these questions have had concrete answers leaked to the media.

Let’s jump into the top 11 (yes, there were that many) significant takeaways from Paton’s pre-free agency press conference, along with some takeaways from what head coach Vic Fangio had to say.

1. The goal is to get Justin Simmons a long-term deal

In a recent interview with Sirius XM, Broncos safety Justin Simmons expressed that there is mutual interest in the Pro Bowler and All-Pro staying in Denver.

Although he wouldn’t guarantee a deal would get done, Paton claimed that the Broncos’ goal has been to get Simmons a long-term contract done.

At this point, everyone knows and understands that Justin Simmons is not leaving Denver in 2021, it’s just a matter of what will the circumstances regarding his contract be?

The Broncos can franchise tag him for less than $14 million, which is currently likely the baseline price of the safety market (on an average annual basis). Simmons is the type of player, based on his age and productivity, that would almost assuredly re-set the market if he were to actually hit it.

We’ll see what he and the Broncos eventually agree on, but right now, all of the signs being put out to the public indicate that a long-term deal is what both sides are motivated to do, and five day’s s from right now (March 9) is the deadline.

2. The team wants Von Miller back

Although he has the highest 2021 cap hit of any player on the team at $22.225 million, the new Broncos GM informed the media that the team wants Von Miller back this season.

What exactly is Paton working through with Von and his agent? Well, the latest report is that the team and Miller are working to re-do his deal so that the Broncos can have some cap relief and so that Miller can potentially finish his career as a Bronco.

If the two sides don’t come to an agreement, there has been speculation that the Broncos would decline Miller’s option.

Are they in a tough spot against the salary cap right now? No. Is committing $22.225 million against the salary cap this year after over $25 million last year for Miller — who missed the 2020 season due to injury — a little high?

Yes.

Miller is a Broncos legend at this point and since Vic Fangio has been hired as the team’s head coach, we’ve only seen four games with both he and Bradley Chubb on the field at the same time. Chubb’s ACL was torn in one of those four games.

It would be such a shame if that was all we got to see of those two working together in Fangio’s defense. They have the potential to be something special.

Miller has talked before about being with the Broncos through the good and bad times. He has won a Super Bowl and was the MVP of that game. He’s made a bunch of money so at this point, it’s reasonable to think that Miller would work with the Broncos a bit on this to continue cementing his legacy as an all-time great in Denver.

3. Shelby Harris is a “priority”

Over the course of the last two seasons, perhaps no defensive lineman has been more underrated across the entire NFL than Shelby Harris.

Harris hasn’t been a sack artist, but he’s been so impactful as both a run defender and pass defender, and I say that intentionally. Not only can Harris rush the QB (8.5 sacks, 17 QB hits in 27 games under Vic Fangio) but he is one of the best in the NFL at batting passes at the line of scrimmage.

He has 17 of those over the last two seasons.

The Broncos’ coaching staff loves Shelby Harris’ fit in the defense, and Harris loves his fit with Fangnio as well. It’s a primary reason that he was willing to play last season for just $3.25 million when other players with his production were making at least $7-8 million annually, many of them more than that.

At the age of 29 going on 30, it’s tough to project Shelby Harris’ market value, but his value to the Broncos is tremendous.

Based on what happened last offseason, it wouldn’t be shocking to see the Broncos strike a deal with Harris worth somewhere between $6-8 million per season for the next three or four years. He is worth a nice pay day and obviously George Paton recognized that in his film study.

4. Kareem Jackson’s situation in question?

With a 2021 cap hit of nearly $13 million, Kareem Jackson’s name has understandably come up in regards to possible salary cap casualties.

We took a look at some free agent safeties in 2021 that could be intriguing to the Broncos if they do decide to move on from K-Jack.

According to George Paton, the Broncos have had some “positive conversations” with Jackson’s representatives ahead of their decision of whether or not to pick up his 2021 option.

Jackson being a cap casualty would have nothing to do with his play and everything to do with age and the situation of free agency. The Broncos would be able to get younger in free agency, no question, but would they be able to replace what Jackson brings to the table?

Vic Fangio is undoubtedly hoping for some continuity in his defense and that is why it would make sense for the Broncos to bring Jackson back. On the other hand, this year’s free agency class and draft class look awesome at the position, and the Broncos could free up $10 million in cap space by letting Jackson go.

It’s a tough decision and the ideal situation for the Broncos would again be Jackson adding a year or two to his deal, lowering his 2021 cap hit, and kicking the can of cutting him down the road. He’s still playing well, and the team could focus on drafting his replacement instead of signing him if Jackson was willing to re-structure or re-do his deal.

5. Ja’Wuan James will be back in 2021

Ja’Wuan James has been a hugely disappointing 2019 free agent acquisition.

After playing well in the 2019 preseason, James was injured in the season opener against the then-Oakland Raiders, and he wasn’t the same after that. He appeared in three games, but wasn’t confident enough in his knee to play on a full-time basis.

After the injury-plagued 2019, James decided to opt out of the 2020 season due to COVID-19, potential injury concerns with a weird offseason, and the birth of his child.

The Broncos are between a rock and a hard place with James’ contract and there is no question that 2021 is a make-or-break year for him. For the time being, it sounds like the Broncos will welcome him back with open arms.

George Paton stated that he has spoken with James and that James told him how he’s missed football. That should be music to Broncos fans’ ears.

Hopefully, he is able to prove it on the field. If James is healthy and ready to go this season, the Broncos’ offensive line could be one of the best and most improved units (again) in 2021. They have already taken a huge leap forward under Mike Munchak’s guidance and James is a player who would make them even better at his best.

Entering his age 29 season, James has to show the Broncos and the fans why he was worthy of $32 million in guaranteed cash money.

6. QB is among options in play with pick no. 9

In case you thought this press conference from George Paton was going to provide clarity about whether the Denver Broncos were going to pursue a quarterback with the 9th pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, well…

Quarterback is on the table with the 9th pick for the Denver Broncos in the 2021 NFL Draft. Everything that everyone has heard at this point seems to indicate the Broncos hope to bring in competition for Drew Lock, and most in the know think that will be in the form of a veteran.

Does that mean the Broncos would pass on quarterbacks in this draft?

They should not have decided to do that at this point in the process.

The Broncos should evaluate the quarterbacks in this class — a very strong QB class — as though they intend to potentially invest in one. That means running through the pro day gambit, having pre-draft virtual meetings with these guys — the whole nine yards.

Does that mean they have to take one? No, and Paton’s comments don’t indicate that either. The reality is, there is a chance the Broncos could take one. This year’s crop of defensive prospects is not nearly as strong at the top as the offensive side of the ball.

There’s a really good chance that by the time the Broncos are on the clock, the best player on the board will be on the offensive side of the ball. We’ll see how the Broncos go about the next couple of months but the safe bet is that they will be doing all of the homework necessary on these young QBs.

7. Status quo with Deshaun Watson trade rumors

The Deshaun Watson trade rumors aren’t going to go anywhere until the guy is out of Houston.

There is a huge section of Broncos Country that already has their hearts set on the remote possibility of the Broncos landing Watson, but it’s best to pump the brakes.

At his introductory press conference, George Paton declared he would be aggressive but not reckless as a general manager, and that the Broncos would be “in” every deal. A reporter put it out there to Paton that the Broncos were obviously in on Matthew Stafford and they wondered if he would also be in on Deshaun Watson.

Paton, with a smile on his face as the question was asked, responded:

"I can’t discuss other players that are under contract. I appreciate the question. I’ve said before, we’re going to be aggressive and we’re going to be in every deal. It doesn’t mean we’re going to make that deal but we’re going to look into everything whether it is a quarterback or a defensive lineman. Anything that helps our football team we’re going to pursue. George Paton (via Broncos PR)"

Now, trading for Watson would certainly qualify as helping the football team. He is a star player, young, under contract, has a low cap hit in 2021 — all of the reasons Broncos fans want Watson are reasons the Texans have been bullish about not wanting to trade him.

It’s great to hear from Paton (for a second time) that he is going to be aggressive and that the Broncos will be in every deal. They were in on Matthew Stafford, but ultimately they weren’t willing to go to the price the Lions were asking.

This fits the “aggressive but not reckless” mentality.

If the Texans start actually listening to Watson trade offers, we’ll see what happens. For now, Paton obviously cannot comment on him as a specific option for the team, but it’s been reported before that the Broncos would be interested and that Watson himself is interested in the Broncos as well.

This would qualify under the nothing to see here category.

8. Team wants to add multiple CBs (Draft, FA)

The biggest need on the Broncos’ roster is arguably at the cornerback position.

They are going into the offseason with Michael Ojemudia, Bryce Callahan, and Essang Bassey as the projected starters.

Vic Fangio alluded to the fact that the initial plan last year was to have Callahan playing the nickel role, but injuries pushed him outside where he wound up being the best corner on the team.

With that being said, the Broncos cannot afford to go into the 2021 season just staying status quo at cornerback. This is a good crop of free agent players and a really strong all-around crop of draft prospects as well. Fangio said the team wants to add through both free agency and the draft at that position.

The Broncos have to have a strong top four at the position at the very least. Bryce Callahan is entering a contract year and both Ojemudia and Bassey are coming off of injuries.

At this point, it remains to be seen what kind of free agent the Broncos would pursue at cornerback, but if the plan is again for Bryce Callahan to be in the nickel and only play outside in case of emergency, it would not be surprising if the free agents the Broncos targeted were primarily outside guys.

Vic Fangio obviously loves versatile players but he talked in his press conference about how teams are getting into trouble by thinking cornerbacks can only fit one certain type of mold. He alluded to the fact that there are not enough corners for the 96 starting spots around the league when you are trying to be too specific about the type of guy you look to add.

With that in mind, just about any free agent the Broncos would add will not likely preclude them from going after someone in the first two rounds of the 2021 NFL Draft.

9. Top restricted free agents will be tendered, but how high?

George Paton confirmed in his pre-free agency press conference that all of the team’s top three restricted free agents will be given tenders by the Broncos.

But how high?

Paton could not (or would not) confirm that.

The Broncos’ decisions to re-sign their top restricted free agents to second-round tenders seem like a no-brainer when it comes to the business end of the decisions. If they do not give Phillip Lindsay, Tim Patrick, and Alexander Johnson second-round tenders, the best they can get is first right of refusal.

Is it worth about a million bucks to gamble that one of those guys could get away?

That’s what we’re talking about here.

The only player the Broncos may consider giving the original round or first-right-of-refusal tender to is probably Phillip Lindsay. Lindsay is the Colorado Kid and one of the most explosive running backs in the NFL, but does the team view him as a great fit in the Pat Shurmur offense?

It would be a shame if they decided he wasn’t, but it’s possible. Lindsay has expressed that he wasn’t overly pleased with his role last year, but it would be in the team’s best interests to try and figure that out.

Wouldn’t it?

One way or another, the Broncos are going to give themselves at least the chance to match any contract Lindsay or Patrick or Johnson are offered.

10. Bradley Chubb option decision will come after Draft

This is not an overly pressing matter, but it’s great that it was asked anyway.

The Broncos have to decide in the next two months if they are going to exercise Bradley Chubb’s fifth-year contract option.

Time flies, doesn’t it?

Chubb was the 5th overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, and if he is classified as a linebacker, the fifth-year option for him at that high should come in around $13 million on the 2022 salary cap.

That’s obviously no small chunk of change.

The last Broncos first-round draft selection to have his fifth-year option exercised was 2014 first-round pick Bradley Roby. The Broncos have declined the options of Sylvester Williams (2013), Shane Ray (2015), and Garett Bolles (2017) in the John Elway era. Paxton Lynch (2016) never made it to the point where his option could be exercised or not. Elway did not have a first-round pick in 2012.

The decision to keep Chubb seems simple. He is a core player for this Denver Broncos team. When the time comes, unless Paton decides to give Chubb an extension instead, it seems likely the Broncos will pick up Chubb’s option.

11. Team still believes in Drew Lock

Let’s look at what both George Paton and Vic Fangio had to say about Drew Lock. The last time we heard from Paton, he had not yet done an in-depth review of Lock’s 2020 game tape.

Now, he has.

The first question he was asked was about his evaluation of Lock and whether the team is looking to bring in a veteran to “challenge” him. The second question was about traits and characteristics he is looking for in evaluating quarterbacks.

"I did a deep drive on Drew. Like I said in my [introductory] press conference, [he’s] very talented. He was inconsistent at times and has a lot to work on, but I’ve spoken with Drew. I see him every day. He’s here early and he’s working. He really wants to be great. We’re always going to try and bring in competition to every position, the quarterback as well. I like the trek that Drew is on. I haven’t seen Drew live on the field. I’ve just seen the tape. There is so much that goes into that when evaluating a quarterback. I like to see them live. You’d like to see them in critical situations. You like to see the accuracy. How is he with his teammates? What is the leadership like? Again, I can’t give you three things. There is so much involved in evaluating quarterbacks. I look forward to evaluating Drew further and in person. He does have all of the traits you look for in a quarterback. GM George Paton (via Broncos PR)"

That last statement says plenty.

There are so many arguments these days on Broncos Twitter about Drew Lock that have become vile and toxic. It’s a shame things have gotten to that level, but it’s clear that what’s been reported is not just coachspeak — the Broncos do like Drew Lock and they’re not simply looking to cut bait as quickly as possible for the next alternative or stopgap.

Paton’s comments hold a ton of weight here because he did not draft Lock and is seeing him with fresh eyes. Vic Fangio, however, is not seeing Lock with fresh eyes per se, but he is seeing Lock through Paton’s eyes for the first time.

Now that he’s not working directly with John Elway on this sort of decision and Paton is the man in charge of the roster, what are Fangio’s thoughts on Lock?

"I’m confident that Drew’s going to continue to improve. Drew has had a great offseason up to this point. There’s not a lot you can do, but he’s working hard on his own and coming over here and getting workouts. I know he’s doing a lot at home by himself and watching video by himself. He’s got a good setup over there. He’s doing anything and everything he can to improve, even in February and now in March. I feel like he’ll continue to improve. As it relates to the quarterback carousel that everybody’s talking about going around the league, we’ll see how it turns out. Right now, it’s just a lot of rumors and innuendoes and everybody proposing this and that. I really don’t know what’s going to happen with some of the names that are being bandied about out there. HC Vic Fangio (via Broncos PR)"

So, George Paton — the team’s general manager —  likes the “trek” Drew Lock is on and said he has “all of the traits you look for” in a quarterback. Vic Fangio said he is confident that Lock is going to continue to improve, which implies that he feels he has already shown improvement.

It’s critical to remember that Lock is still a young player who has only played really 17 games in the NFL. He has had to deal with multiple injuries, COVID-19, a change in offensive scheme and philosophy, and plenty else.

It’s a shame he wasn’t an MVP candidate in his second year like everyone else seems to be these days, but the fact that he wasn’t doesn’t mean he’s not going to “continue to improve” and prove that he can be a franchise guy.

Speaking of, it’s also not unfair to say that Lock hasn’t proven that yet. Fangio said as much.

"We’re always looking to bring in players at all positions that can raise the level of competition, and the quarterback is no different in that regard. Until we get—or until Drew proves to be the next great quarterback like the ones that the Denver franchise has been used to in years past or the ones certain teams around the league have, you guys know where they are and are used to, we’re going to always try and bring in competition. But I have confidence that Drew can continue to improve. HC Vic Fangio (via Broncos PR)"

No option at quarterback is or should be off the table at this point. Drew Lock would not be exempt from competition or from the Broncos pursuing upgrades with guys like Matthew Stafford being made available, or possibly Russell Wilson or Deshaun Watson.

If those trades are not to be made, free agency will require the Broncos to be creative about adding a certain type of player with the ability to actually help the Broncos win if he wins the starting job but also just to push Drew Lock at the very least.

One way or another, the Broncos weren’t talking about Lock in the past tense. They weren’t speaking doom and gloom over his 2020 film.

Broncos free agency: 5 safeties to target if Kareem Jackson is not back

The Denver Broncos could be on the lookout for safeties in free agency if Kareem Jackson is not retained. Which players could they pursue?

Lock hasn’t proven to be the next great Denver quarterback yet, but one day at a time, he’s putting in the work and it’s being noticed.