George Paton is a general manager who is defined by experience, disciplined scouting, and methodical roster-building. While analysis of moves like Russell Wilson’s contract linger, Paton’s approach has yielded playoff contention and sustained promise. As he enters his fifth year, the Broncos’ next chapter will rest on his ability to convert evaluation into wins and rebuild with both patience and momentum.
After serving as a college standout linebacker at UCLA and earning a reputation for his scouting acumen with the Chicago Bears, Miami Dolphins, and Minnesota Vikings, Paton earned the opportunity to shape a franchise in Denver. In January 2021, he took on the role of Broncos General Manager, bringing a methodical and analytical mindset to every decision.
The Broncos enjoyed a return to playoff contention early in Paton’s tenure, showcasing an upswing in roster quality. However, ongoing scrutiny focuses on some high-profile acquisitions and coaching fits that didn’t yield consistent results. Still, the overall trajectory reflects positive growth and increasing team cohesion at key position groups.
Paton Assessing Progress & Areas for Growth
George enters his fifth year with a foundation rooted in, maximizing draft capital to fill remaining roster gaps. Paton is excited about this year’s draft class as he has added key pieces to the offense with defensive back Jahdae Barron and RJ Harvey. Paton stated in a recent article with Jeff Legwold after he drafted Barron that he is going to be a good player for years to come.
“[Payton and I] couldn’t stop watching him,” Paton said. “Just the instincts and participation, route awareness, zone coverage, really sticking to [his] man, doesn’t give up any completions.
“This guy’s good in the run game, a really good tackler, really good blitzer. He plays all over the field. He just kind of fits everything we’re looking for in a player.”
Paton is also excited about Harvey and what he brings to the offense.
“Harvey — [he] was kind of our pet cat throughout the process,” Broncos general manager George Paton said. “His running style, he’s dynamic, really good vision, really good instincts, really good contact balance, highly explosive. We thought maybe he had the best vision in the draft.”
Paton Outlook for Broncos
Since his arrival, Paton has worked to assemble foundational pieces offensive and defensive youngsters such as Bo Nix and Patrick Surtain II who are expected to be core contributors for years. Supported by strengthened cap flexibility and revamped scouting analytics, his vision is to build a roster with both immediate competitiveness and future sustainability.
George Paton stands out as a calculated, data-informed GM who values depth, character, and measured risk. While the Broncos’ big moves and coaching shifts remain under the microscope, the structure he’s building hints at sustained upward momentum. With smart planning and hard-earned flexibility, Paton looks to guide Denver into a new era of meaningful, lasting success.
If the Broncos deliver noticeable playoff progress in the next season, Paton’s blueprint which is built on smart decisions, patience, and developmental focus could be seen as a turning point. His track record suggests the Broncos will continue to evolve, aiming for consistency and long-term success under his leadership.