Denver Broncos: Five most underrated offseason moves

1 of 5

Jun 15, 2021; Englewood, Colorado, USA; Members of the Denver Broncos huddle during an offseason workout at the UCHealth Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports /

The Denver Broncos found their new front office head this offseason and he has made a quick impact on the organization. While most of the moves that were made had an instant impact, there are some that were more underrated than others that could have big impacts down the road. Could these five transactions go down as critical moves for new general manager George Paton?

With Paton taking over general manager duties of the Broncos from John Elway this offseason, all eyes have been on the first-time GM as he looks to right the ship. After several down years and losing seasons, the Broncos find themselves in a tough spot, missing out on the playoffs for five straight seasons after winning Super Bowl 50. The time for change has come and Paton, so far, has delivered.

Paton made big moves early in his tenure, retaining several key players on tenders and exercising Von Miller’s 2021 option. He also made some big decisions for the future that could have an impact well beyond 2021, and those are the moves that will likely go down as “underrated”.

In a world where we want instant gratification in all aspects of our football teams, sometimes the underrated moves have the biggest long-term payoff. So, what are the five most underrated moves of the Denver Broncos’ offseason?

Denver Broncos top 5 most underrated offseason moves

1. Drafting Patrick Surtain II

Okay, so I know this might not seem like an “underrated” move to a lot of people, but this was a move that sets the Broncos up for 2021 and beyond. When it seemed like Paton was done solidifying his secondary, he dropped a big bomb on the NFL by taking a blue-chip cornerback prospect with a top-10 draft selection.

Many fans and pundits around the league expected the team to address the quarterback position and select former Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields with the ninth overall pick.

Why is this move underrated? Because not only do the Broncos have a top-talent secondary for this upcoming season, but taking Surtain gives them an elite cornerback piece for the future. With Kyle Fuller on a one-year deal and Bryce Callahan entering the final year of his contract, the Broncos could easily transition without them next season if they so choose.

This was a big brain move by Paton and one that has Vic Fangio’s secondary set up for long-term success.

Home/Broncos News