Tag: GM

Broncos GM George Paton is fixing the mistake John Elway made 10 years ago

The Broncos made a mistake in 2012 when they drafted Brock Osweiler over Russell Wilson. Ten years later, George Paton is fixing that mistake.

John Elway made his greatest move as a general manager – one of the best transactions in Denver Broncos history – when he signed Peyton Manning as a free agent in 2012.

Elway successfully wooing Manning was no small feat, and it helped the Broncos attract other marquee free agents like DeMarcus Ware, Aqib Talib, Emmanuel Sanders and T.J. Ward as Denver reached two Super Bowls in four years, winning Super Bowl 50 in Manning’s final season.

Elway’s tenure as GM certainly wasn’t perfect, but he deserves credit for what he got right, particularly Manning. Without Elway, the Broncos probably wouldn’t land Manning, and without Manning, Denver wouldn’t have reached those two Super Bowls.

Elway also deserves criticism for what he got wrong, though, like failing to set the team up for success in the post-Manning era.

In 2012, the same year the Broncos signed Manning, Denver looked to the draft to add a long-term quarterback to be Manning’s eventual replacement.

Elway seemingly wanted a prototypical quarterback much like himself. Arizona State’s Brock Osweiler (6-7) fit the bill, and Elway used a second-round pick to select him over Wisconsin’s Russell Wilson (5-11), who went to the Seattle Seahawks in the third round.

Of course, re-signing Wilson after Manning’s retirement might have been difficult for the Broncos (they failed to reach an extension with Osweiler after Manning retired), but drafting Wilson over Osweiler still would have been a better choice. Elway was slow to adjust to the NFL’s changing QB era, and it was a mistake to pass on Wilson.

New general manager George Paton is fixing Elway’s mistake, but the fix comes with a hefty price tag. Denver has agreed to trade tight end Noah Fant, defensive lineman Shelby Harris, quarterback Drew Lock, two first-round picks, two second-round picks and fifth-round pick to the Seahawks in exchange for Wilson and a fourth-round pick.

Osweiler fit Elway’s expectations for a quarterback’s measurables and traits. Wilson didn’t. Paton doesn’t have the same expectations for a QB.

“I think height, as we’ve learned, there’s some QBs that aren’t over 6 feet who are dynamic,” Paton said at the NFL combine last week, via DNVR’s Andrew Mason. “When I first got into the league, everyone wanted a 6-5 QB, right? Who could really throw it. Didn’t matter if they moved. Well, the league’s changed.“

Paton was being asked about QB prospects entering this year’s draft when he gave that response, but it applies well to Wilson, one of the most dynamic QBs in the NFL despite his height.

It took ten years and cost multiple players and draft picks, but the Broncos are amending their mistake. Denver’s in good hands with Paton.

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John Elway’s contract with Broncos has expired

John Elway stepped down from Broncos general manager duties last year, and his president of football operations tenure has now ended as well.

The five-year contract extension John Elway signed with the Denver Broncos in 2017 has expired. He is no longer an official employee of the team.

Elway, 61, played quarterback for the Broncos from 1983-1998, helping the team reach five Super Bowls. Elway won two of those championship games before retiring in 1999.

Elway returned to the franchise in 2011 as executive vice president of football operations. He was promoted to general manager one year later and remained the team’s GM through the 2020 season.

Elway helped the Broncos acquire quarterback Peyton Manning in 2012 and they went on to reach two title games with Manning, winning Super Bowl 50 following the 2015 season.

Elway was promoted to president of football operations in 2017 when he received a contract extension, and he also kept his GM title. Elway stepped down from GM duties in 2021 but remained president.

Elway’s tenure as president is now over and he will serve as an “outside consultant” to general manager George Paton, according to KUSA-TV’s Mike Klis.

Elway has expressed interest in becoming a minority owner of the team, and he has said he would be interested in serving as a consultant for the club’s next controlling owner. Elway’s potential role with new new ownership won’t be sorted out until after the Broncos complete a sale of the team.

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Von Miller thankful for how Broncos GM George Paton handled trade

“I’m sure he could have gotten more from other teams. But they paid the majority of my salary so I could come to the L.A. Rams,” Von Miller said of George Paton.

Von Miller didn’t ask to be traded last fall, and if it were up to him, he’d still be with the Denver Broncos.

Things have worked out well for the edge defender with his new team, though. Miller and the Los Angeles Rams have reached the Super Bowl, where Miller will have a chance to win his second ring on Sunday.

The Broncos had offers from two other teams last year, but general manager George Paton intentionally traded the edge defender to a true contender. Miller is grateful for that.

“Truthfully, I think George Paton was looking out for me,” Miller said during his Super Bowl media week availability on Monday, according to The Gazette‘s George Stoia. “You don’t ever want to be traded. But George, he could have sent me anywhere. He could have sent me to any team in the NFL. I’m sure he could have gotten more from other teams. But they paid the majority of my salary so I could come to the L.A. Rams.

“They sent me to a contender for the Super Bowl. I would tell him ‘thank you.’ I always felt like it was always more than just a football relationship with him. And it definitely shows the way they treated me even on my way out. They were thinking about the best situation for me. I’m thankful to the Denver Broncos — John Elway, George Paton — all of those guys from my time there.”

The last time Miller played on the NFL’s biggest stage, he took home Super Bowl 50 MVP honors following a 24-10 win over the Carolina Panthers. He’s now set to face the Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl LVI.

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6 takeaways from Chiefs GM Brett Veach’s end-of-season media availability

#Chiefs GM Brett Veach held his end-of-season press conference on Tuesday, providing insight on what to expect out of the 2022 NFL offseason.

It might be the end of the 2021 NFL season for the Kansas City Chiefs, but the work is never finished for the front office staff. Chiefs GM Brett Veach addressed the media for his end-of-season media availability on Tuesday, and while he’s as disappointed as the rest of Chiefs Kingdom, he’s turning the chapter and getting prepared for the offseason. He offered an optimistic outlook for the future of the team and gave fans an idea of what they can expect this offseason.

Here are some quick takeaways from what Veach had to say:

Joe Ellis believes the Broncos are in good hands with George Paton

“I think that the strategic vision of this franchise is in good hands with George [Paton], and it lies with him moving forward,” Broncos president/CEO Joe Ellis said.

The Denver Broncos are expected to be sold this offseason, potentially to the highest bidder. Even if the next owner is not very football savvy, though, Broncos president/CEO Joe Ellis believes the football side of the team will be left in good hands under general manager George Paton.

Ellis’ contract is set to expire this spring, so Paton has been leading the team’s head coach search, and he will continue leading the team’s football operations going into the 2022 offseason.

“I like everything about his thoroughness, his work ethic, his ability to administrate, his understanding of football, his understanding of what it takes to put a team together [and] to put a team on the field that has an opportunity to win every game,” Ellis said during his end-of-season press conference when asked about Paton.

“I think we’re very fortunate. I think that the strategic vision of this franchise is in good hands with George, and it lies with him moving forward. We’re lucky we have him and I think whoever the owner is in the future will recognize that very quickly.”

Denver has 11 draft picks and about $50 million in salary cap space available this offseason, so 2022 is shaping up to be a big year for Paton.

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George Paton will have ‘full authority’ to choose Broncos’ next coach

“Our search to find the next head coach of the Broncos will be a comprehensive, collaborative process,” GM George Paton said.

When the Denver Broncos hired George Paton as general manager last year, team president/CEO Joe Ellis, executive John Elway and even ex-coach Vic Fangio were involved in the hiring process.

Fangio has now been fired and Ellis and Elway have contracts that are set to expire later this spring. That leaves Paton in place to choose the team’s next head coach.

Ellis said in a statement Sunday that Paton will have “full authority” in the team’s head coach search. Paton released the following statement on Sunday:

Looking ahead, there’s a lot of work to be done for us to take the next step. Winning is not easy, and we’re going to embrace the opportunity to improve in every single area of our operation.

Our search to find the next head coach of the Broncos will be a comprehensive, collaborative process. We’re approaching it with an open mind and look forward to spending time with some outstanding candidates.

With the foundation in place, the progress that’s been made and the resources we have to get better, I’m excited about the future of our team. We will find an outstanding leader and head coach for the Broncos and our fans.

Denver’s interview process will likely begin in the coming days.

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Broncos GM George Paton has scouted 5 QB prospects in person this fall

Broncos GM George Paton has scouted QBs Carson Strong, Matt Corral, Kenny Pickett, Malik Willis and Sam Howell in person this fall.

Denver Broncos general manager George Paton attended the CSU-Nevada game at Canvas Stadium in Fort Collins last Saturday.

The game featured several potential NFL prospects, but the most notable player was Nevada quarterback Carson Strong.

Perhaps in part because he was playing right in their backyard, the Broncos sent four members of their scouting department to watch Strong (and the other players featured in the game) play.

The Wolf Pack blew out the Rams 52-10 and Strong looked sharp, completing 17-of-22 passes for 288 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions.

Luke Easterling’s most recent 2022 NFL mock draft for Draft Wire has the Broncos selecting Strong in the second round.

Paton has now watched five quarterback prospects in person this fall. In addition to Strong, Denver’s GM has also attended games featuring QBs Matt Corral, Kenny Pickett, Malik Willis and Sam Howell in recent weeks.

The Broncos currently have 11 picks to use in next year’s draft, including five selections in the first three rounds.

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Broncos GM George Paton scouted QBs Kenny Pickett and Sam Howell last week

Over the last two weeks, Broncos GM George Paton has now had in-person looks at QBs Malik Willis, Matt Corral, Kenny Pickett and Sam Howell.

Five NFL general managers — including Denver Broncos GM George Paton — attended the Pittsburgh Panthers vs. North Carolina Tar Heels college football showdown last week, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette‘s Johnny McGonigal.

The game, played at Heinz Field, featured several NFL draft prospects, but the two big names were quarterbacks Kenny Pickett (Pitt) and Sam Howell (UNC). Both quarterbacks played well, but Pickett’s Panthers got the edge over Howell’s Tar Heels with a 30-23 win in overtime.

Pickett went 25-of-43 passing for 346 yards with three touchdowns and one interception. Howell went 22-of-33 through the air for 296 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. Howell also rushed 17 times for 28 yards and one score on the ground.

Two weeks ago, Paton attended a Liberty-Ole Miss game that featured quarterbacks Malik Willis (Flames) and Matt Corral (Rebels).

Last month, Broncos Wire published an early list of the projected top five quarterbacks in the 2022 NFL draft. Since then, Paton has scouted three of those quarterbacks in person (and more are likely on his schedule). It seems clear that Denver preparing for the possibility of making a QB change in 2022.

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Chiefs GM Brett Veach says there were no ‘real surprises’ in Round 1

The Kansas City Chiefs are in good shape heading into Round 2 tomorrow.

The first round of the 2021 NFL draft turned out just as Kansas City Chiefs GM Brett Veach expected, or at least that is what he’d have you believe. As the first round of the draft wrapped on Monday, the Chiefs were content with their decision to trade for Orlando Brown Jr. from the Ravens.

They were also content in their decision to stay out of the first round and hang onto both of their second-round picks. According to Veach, there weren’t any big curveballs in the first round.

“I think it kind of played out,” Veach said. “I don’t think there were any real surprises. I think when you get to the last four or five picks, those are always guys some teams have in one, some teams have in two, some teams have in mid-two. I think you look at the draft, in the first 18 to 24 picks, these were guys that if we didn’t have in one we had in early two. Then, I would say pretty much even toward the end there, these guys, I mean obviously (Payton) Turner, (Eric) Stokes, (Gregory) Rousseau, the pass rusher from Penn State  (Jayson Oweh), (Joe) Tryon, these were all guys that we liked right in that range. I don’t think there were any new surprises or any big curveballs, but that’s typical for a first round. I would say every year there’s a couple. Well, I don’t know if there were really any this year, but there certainly will be a lot more tomorrow and that’s why I think having those two twos will be very advantageous for us.”

While there weren’t any real surprises in the first round, Veach is expecting the unexpected as soon as the draft picks up tomorrow. That’s one of the reasons why he felt landing Orlando Brown Jr. in trade and having picks No. 58 and No. 63 in the second round is so important. The combination provides the Chiefs with what he described as “maximum flexibility” in a portion of the draft that he feels is a “hot zone.”

“We can go O-Line, we can go D-Line, we can go corner, we can go safety, linebacker,” Veach said. “So I think that’s the benefit of where we are and having those two twos that we’re not pigeonholed into saying, ‘we need a left tackle, we’ve got to get this taken care of.’ Once we addressed that need and we were able to acquire another second-round pick, it really opened up the entire board for us.”

While Chiefs Kingdom sleeps, Veach plans to meet with his staff. Together they’ll reassess the draft board after the first round. They’ll also work through different scenarios that could happen ahead of their picks. This is really when the front office can really begin to figure out the best strategy for their first two picks in the draft.

“I think we’re happy with the numbers and kind of how they worked out,” Veach said. “Again, having 58 and 63, I think we’re going to be in a good spot to get a couple of good players and have some flexibility. As far as the first round, again, I think it was kind of well documented that the quarterbacks were going to go early. There were obviously three really good wideouts and they went early and then it’s kind of just picking at some of those positions that we talked about during this process, the O-Line, D-Line or D-End position, and the cornerback position. There was a run at corners in the early part and then at the end there, there was a couple of corners that went off the board. I think it kind of played out, I mean not exactly, I don’t think it ever plays out exactly as you think, but I think in general from 1,000-foot view I think the players went maybe not in the order that you thought, but I think they all met kind of in those zones you thought they were going to go. I think the value here is really this second round into the mid-third and again, excited about having those two twos.”

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Top quotes from Washington GM Martin Mayhew introductory press conference

Martin Mayhew was officially announced as Washington’s new general manager on Wednesday, and he spoke about his vision for the team, as well as the next steps.

The move has been official for a couple of weeks now, but Wednesday marked the first time that we actually got formally introduced to Martin Mayhew, the new general manager for the Washington Football Team.

Mayhew is an experienced veteran in the business, having served as the GM for the Detroit Lions earlier this century, as well as the VP of Player Personnel for the San Francisco 49ers. He was also a player in the NFL, having won Super Bowl XXVI with Washington as a CB in 1991.

It was first reported that Marty Hurney would become the new GM in Washington, while Mayhew would hold a high-ranking executive role as well. We later learned that it would actually be Mayhew that would hold the GM title, while Hurney will be involved as a high-ranking executive in the front office. Both men have held numerous executive and general manager roles in the NFL before.

Here are some of the top quotes from Mayhew’s introductory press conference: