The Denver Broncos have hired Minnesota Vikings assistant general manager George Paton as their next general manager.
Paton flew into Denver on Tuesday for his second interview with the team, this time in person. Former Denver GM and current President of Football Operations John Elway flew into town to meet with Paton during the second interview. He was joined by head coach Vic Fangio, CEO Joe Ellis, and PR guru Patrick Smyth. Paton was given a tour of the team facility and then was taken to dinner Tuesday night, per source.
It has been mentioned multiple times that Paton was the most qualified candidate among the final five candidates the Broncos interviewed. Paton had been working closely with general manager Rick Spielman with the Vikings, and the two have a history dating back to their time together with the Bears and Dolphins.
Paton has had opportunities in recent years to become a General Manager, but has remained patient, waiting for the right job. Paton pulled out of the running for GM of the Cleveland Browns last year to remain with Minnesota. Before the San Francisco 49ers hired John Lynch, Paton was one of their final candidates before head coach Kyle Shanahan and team owner made the final decision to hire Lynch.
While Paton was in Minnesota, he was part of the regimes that went out and acquired quarterbacks like Sam Bradford, Case Keenum, Kirk Cousins, and even the legendary gun-slinger Brett Favre.
This brings up the question on what the Broncos will do with their own quarterback situation. Do the Broncos roll with Drew Lock for another year, or go out and target or trade for a veteran quarterback, or even draft one in the first round?
Paton also helped find weapons like Dalvin Cook, Adam Thielen, Stefon Diggs, Trae Waynes, Everson Griffen, and most recently Justin Jefferson.
The one thing that the Broncos have struggled with in the past is drafting. Now Paton will have a chance to excel on the defensive side of the ball.
Paton was also considered a favorite up in Detroit due to his connection with Chris Spielman, who is currently helping out in the front office. The Jaguars also held a second interview with Paton earlier this week.
The Broncos wined and dined Paton and convinced him that this roster has great young talent on the offensive side of the ball as well as some young weapons on defense.
Paton will have to decide if pass rusher Bradley Chubb will get his fifth-year option, and also decide if Denver should keep Von Miller on the roster under his current contract or move on the from the former Super Bowl MVP.
The Broncos are not handcuffed in salary cap space or draft picks, so Paton isn’t walking into an awful situation from a personnel standpoint. Paton had a connection with the Broncos, as his nephew is a college scout for Denver. Perhaps that’s what really convinced Paton in becoming the next General Manager of the Denver Broncos.
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