Denver Broncos general manager George Paton totaled nine picks entering the NFL draft, although he didn’t possess the team’s original first- and second-round picks — head coach Nathaniel Hackett still praised his boss’s draft process.
Without the aforementioned first- and second-round picks, the Broncos still walked out of the starter rounds (the first three rounds of the draft) with Nik Bonitto and Greg Dulcich. Add in Russell Wilson as part of the Broncos’ 2022 draft class as well and, with the roster before the aforementioned acquisitions, it’s not hard to understand why the team has the fifth-best Super Bowl odds or why the football cognoscenti finally gave GM Paton his flowers.
Hackett, too, praised Paton’s draft process two weeks ago.
“George gave so much credit to so many people but everything runs through him and watching him lead the whole group — lead the whole room and really make it a collaborative effort was just awesome to see,” Hackett said. “It’s something I want to keep doing myself with our coaches — watching how he truly listened to every single person.
“There was no conflict, it was just all about what was right for the team in the end. It was unbelievable to be a part of and just the different trades that could’ve happened — might’ve happened — did happen. That was kind of the thing that was the most exciting. It’s funny because you’re sitting there waiting and that clock is going down continually but it’s way more intense than I had anticipated.”
Now, Broncos Country waits for the picture-perfect offseason to translate to the team’s win columns with wins.