The Denver Broncos have made plenty of big moves in the first offseason of George Paton’s tenure as general manager. Which five are the best?
It’s been a heck of an offseason for the Denver Broncos in 2021. The Broncos are certainly no strangers to the offseason spotlight over the last decade or so, and 2021 was no different. It all started with John Elway stepping down from his role as general manager of the team and bringing in George Paton from the Minnesota Vikings to build the roster.
Paton was tasked with keeping some positive momentum going and even, dare we say, getting the roster to a point where the playoffs are no longer a laughable expectation from the outside looking in.
Elway had talked about wanting some fresh eyes on the organization at the time he stepped away, and Paton came in with exactly that. After turning down a wide variety of general manager offers over the years, Paton noted that the Denver Broncos’ job opening was one he simply couldn’t pass up on.
As many Denver media talking heads have made a mockery of the roster John Elway assembled, it’s interesting that George Paton didn’t just come in and gut it — he really just kept building on the foundation and even framing put in place by Elway since the team’s roster turned to rubble after the Super Bowl 50 victory.
Even with the setback of the Paxton Lynch flop in the 2016 NFL Draft, the Denver Broncos appear poised to be a potential Wild Card playoff team in 2021 and if Drew Lock takes a huge step forward, perhaps even AFC West contenders.
The latter is certainly a lofty hypothetical, but with seven slots in the playoffs, the Broncos should be thinking postseason.
They can think that way — realistically — thanks to these five moves made throughout the 2021 offseason.