Four years ago, the Denver Broncos embarked on a meticulous and extensive search to replace their legendary general manager, John Elway. The process was anything but simple, as the franchise sought to find a leader capable of steering the team back to its former glory. Elway, a Hall of Fame quarterback who had transitioned into the front office, had brought the Broncos a Super Bowl victory in 2015 but had struggled to maintain consistent success in the years that followed. His eventual decision to step down from the GM role left a significant void, one that required careful consideration to fill.
The Broncos’ ownership and front office knew the importance of this hire. Denver had been a perennial contender for much of Elway’s tenure, but recent seasons had seen the team mired in mediocrity. The quarterback position, in particular, had been a revolving door since Peyton Manning’s retirement, with failed experiments in free agency and the draft leaving the franchise without a true long-term answer. The new general manager would not only need to evaluate talent effectively but also possess the vision to rebuild the roster while navigating the complexities of the modern NFL.
George Paton emerged as the chosen candidate after an exhaustive search that included interviews with several high-profile executives. Paton had spent over a decade with the Minnesota Vikings, serving as their assistant general manager and earning a reputation as a sharp evaluator of talent. His work in Minnesota had helped construct a competitive roster, and his ability to identify value in the draft and free agency made him an attractive option for the Broncos.
When Paton was hired in January 2021, the expectations were clear: restore the Broncos to relevance. His first major task was addressing the quarterback situation, which had plagued the team for years. Drew Lock, a second-round pick in 2019, had shown flashes of potential but struggled with consistency. Paton had to decide whether to commit to Lock as the future or explore other options. The 2021 offseason presented several possibilities, including trading for a veteran or drafting a new signal-caller.
Paton’s first significant move was trading for Carolina Panthers quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, a steady but unspectacular veteran who provided competition for Lock. While the move didn’t solve the long-term issue, it demonstrated Paton’s willingness to make calculated decisions rather than impulsive ones. That same offseason, he also made a bold trade to acquire cornerback Patrick Surtain II in the first round of the draft, passing on the chance to select Justin Fields or Mac Jones. The decision was met with mixed reactions, but Surtain quickly developed into one of the league’s best young defensive backs, validating Paton’s belief in his talent.
The 2021 season unfolded with the Broncos once again stuck in quarterback purgatory. Bridgewater and Lock alternated starts, but neither could secure the job long-term. Denver finished with a 7-10 record, missing the playoffs for the sixth consecutive year. It was clear that Paton needed to make a more aggressive move at quarterback if the Broncos were to compete in a loaded AFC West.
The following offseason, Paton made his biggest splash yet, engineering a blockbuster trade for Seattle Seahawks star Russell Wilson. The deal sent shockwaves through the NFL, as the Broncos gave up a massive package of draft picks and players to acquire the nine-time Pro Bowler. Wilson’s arrival instantly elevated Denver’s ceiling, and the franchise rewarded him with a lucrative contract extension. The move signaled that Paton was all-in on winning now, and the Broncos were suddenly viewed as legitimate contenders.
However, the 2022 season was a disaster. Wilson struggled in a new system under first-year head coach Nathaniel Hackett, and the Broncos’ offense was one of the worst in the league. Hackett was fired before the season even ended, and Paton was forced to reevaluate his approach. The Wilson trade, which had been hailed as a franchise-altering move, now looked like a potential misstep.
Paton’s next challenge was finding the right head coach. After a thorough search, the Broncos hired Sean Payton, a Super Bowl-winning coach with a proven track record of success. Payton’s arrival brought renewed optimism, as his offensive expertise was expected to help revive Wilson’s career. The 2023 season showed some improvement, but the Broncos still fell short of the playoffs, raising further questions about the team’s direction.
Now, four years into Paton’s tenure, the Broncos find themselves at a crossroads. The Wilson experiment has not yielded the desired results, and the team faces difficult decisions about its future. Paton’s drafting has been solid, with players like Surtain, Javonte Williams, and Marvin Mims Jr. showing promise, but the quarterback question remains unanswered.
The pressure is mounting for Paton to deliver. The Broncos’ ownership, now under the Walton-Penner group, has shown a willingness to spend and invest in the team’s success. Paton’s ability to navigate the next phase of the rebuild—whether that means moving on from Wilson, finding a new quarterback, or continuing to build through the draft—will define his legacy in Denver.
Looking back, Paton’s tenure has been a mix of bold moves and cautious decisions. He has shown a keen eye for talent but has also faced criticism for the Wilson trade and the team’s lack of playoff appearances. The next few seasons will determine whether he can ultimately return the Broncos to the heights they reached under Elway. For now, the search for sustained success continues, and Paton remains at the center of it all.
The Denver Broncos’ journey over the past four years has been one of highs and lows, hope and disappointment. George Paton was brought in to stabilize the franchise and return it to contention, but the path has been far from smooth. As the team moves forward, the lessons learned from these past seasons will shape its future. Whether Paton is the man to lead the Broncos back to glory remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: the pressure to win in Denver has never been higher.
