George Paton’s new contract with the Denver Broncos is well-deserved

Dec 2, 2024; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Broncos general manager George Paton before the game against the Cleveland Browns at Empower Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images | Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images Yesterday, the Denver Broncos announced they had come to an agreement on a five-year contract for General Manager George Paton. It’s a well-deserved deal that will keep Paton leading the front office endeavors of the franchise through the 2030 season.

Truth be told, he has come a long way since his initial blunders with Broncos. Once on the hotseat for the failed Russell Wilson trade and the one-and-done head coaching hire of Nathaniel Hackett, things weren’t looking good for Rick Spielman’s former right-hand man. A lot of fans across Broncos Country were vocal about their displeasure—with a strong contingent advocating for his firing after the aforementioned snafus.

However, sometimes it takes a little bit of patience to help right the ship. And there’s no doubt Paton’s scouting prowess and free agent signings over the past several seasons alongside Head Coach Sean Payton have helped erase some of the taint of those blunders. From the bottom of the AFC West, to one of the division and conference’s most formidable teams, Paton has played an integral role in the team’s success from a roster building standpoint.

His initial draft with the franchise (prior to the Wilson-Hackett Saga) in 2021 netted star players like Patrick Surtain II and Quinn Meinerz. Additionally, Jonathon Cooper was a tremendous seventh-round selection, who has become a core player for Denver’s tenacious defense. Netting three high-caliber starters in any draft is rare in itself.