Denver Broncos: Grading all of George Paton’s trades as rookie GM

Denver Broncos general manager George Paton. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
Denver Broncos general manager George Paton. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
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Stephen Weatherly, Denver Broncos
Denver Broncos, Stephen Weatherly. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

Denver Broncos: Grading all of George Paton’s trades as rookie GM

Trade #4

After his rookie contract expired in Minnesota, Stephen Weatherly signed a two-year free agent contract with the Carolina Panthers in 2020.

It didn’t work out, and Weatherly ended up right back in Minnesota with the Vikings.

An outstanding athlete coming out of Vanderbilt, Weatherly is a pretty decent rotational edge piece with explosiveness and high effort, and he’s also played a ton of special teams.

The fact that the Broncos basically got Weatherly for nothing in this trade?

Even better.

He already has proven himself to be worth the trouble, notching a sack in his first game as a member of the Denver Broncos, and looking explosive in the process.

It was Weatherly’s first sack since 2019.

I like the Weatherly trade because he’s only 27 and could be a strong candidate to re-sign after the 2021 season if he can finish well over these final nine games.

This trade may not move the needle a lot on paper, but Weatherly could be a valuable depth piece off the edge for the time being and after this season.

Trade grade: B+

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