The Denver Broncos did really well in the NFL Draft this year and selected some prospects with great value. In the first round, the Broncos selected CB Patrick Surtain II with the ninth overall pick as it adds more firepower into a very stacked cornerback room.
After the first round was concluded, Denver had a press conference with Vic Fangio and George Paton. Surtain was the highest ranked defensive player on the Broncos board according to Paton and said, “The board fell where Surtain was there and we couldn’t pass him up.”
Paton also stated that they were trying to trade back into the first round if the specific player they were targeting would fall into the 20s. It was a mystery of who that player was but according to Mike Klis, that prospect was Jaelan Phillips.
Can confirm per source Paton’s trade back into 1st-round target was U of Miami pass rusher Jaelan Phillips, as Michael Silver mentioned in his piece. Phillips needed to fall to 20s, though, for Paton to have proper compensation and Phillips went No. 18 to Dolphins. #9sports
— Mike Klis (@mikeklis) May 3, 2021
The Miami Dolphins selected Jaelan Phillips with the 18th overall pick in the first round as this led the Broncos to stay put for the rest of the first round.
Phillips is an intriguing prospect coming out of the University of Miami. He finished his season with the Hurricanes on a high note and impressed even more in his pro day. Playing 10 games for the Hurricanes, he recorded:
- 8.0 Sacks (Team Best)
- 15.5 TFL (Team Best)
- 21 Solo Tackles with 24 Assisted
- 1 INT
- 3 Pass Deflections (Team Best amongst DL)
Jaelan Phillips must have been really high on George Paton’s draft board (as he should be), as he was waiting for the right moment to trade up and select him. This wasn’t the first time a scenario between the Denver Broncos and Dolphins happened in the draft.
According to multiple reports, Denver traded up from their 40th pick to select RB Javonte Williams at pick 35. With the Miami Dolphins sitting with the 36th pick, the Broncos jump them to take the stud running back.
RB Javonte Williams was the hot rumor for the #Dolphins. The #Broncos surely heard it as well and jumped Miami to take him.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) April 30, 2021
The Broncos jumped in front of Miami, who were rumored to select Javonte Williams, and stole him away.
— Benjamin Allbright (@AllbrightNFL) May 3, 2021
Paton getting a text from a rival of the Dolphins in the AFC East is one of the best reports that has come out, as that team congratulated Denver for messing up Miami’s plan. It is awesome to see that George Paton is willing to do anything to get his guys, especially if it’s to get back at a team that selected your player before.
Denver Broncos: 5 free agents to target post-NFL Draft
With many quality free agents still left on the market, the Denver Broncos should look to sign a few to help fill the remaining holes on the roster.
Jaelan Phillips being selected to the Dolphins was kind of a bummer to Denver as George Paton really wanted to get him. I am sure Phillips will have a great career. Nonetheless, the Broncos still had a very good draft as Paton concluded his first-ever draft as the Denver Broncos general manager.