The tandem of Broncos head coach Sean Payton and general manager George Paton is here to stay.
Paton has dealt with scrutiny. The team has a 20-31 record since he took over as general manager in 2021, and he helped negotiate contracts with quarterback Russell Wilson ($242.6 million extension) and outside linebacker Randy Gregory (five years, $70 million) that will likely hamper Denver’s cap sheet this offseason and beyond.
However, Broncos owner and CEO Greg Penner thought Payton and Paton worked well together and expressed his excitement to see that partnership develop moving forward.
“I was impressed with the way they handled going from free agency to the draft,” Penner said at Tuesday’s end-of-season press conference. “It was great to see a number of young players that George and his staff drafted previously step up and play key roles. I thought there was improvement this year, and George can help us build a winning roster here.”
Payton reaffirmed that he has had a “good working relationship” with Paton since the beginning, with the two talking at least two to four times a day.
Meanwhile, Paton believes he and Payton are ahead of the game. Paton said they are aligned on how they want to build this team moving forward and added that there was a great collaboration between coaches and scouts.
Paton believes Payton’s detail-oriented mindset gives the organization a big jump for the offseason.
“Sean does a great job of describing the vision he wants for each position,” Paton said. “The scouts are experts because Sean talks so much about players and what they are looking for. (Defensive coordinator) (Vance) Joseph does a good job articulating as well.”
Penner said he thought the Broncos took a step forward with Payton and Paton despite ending 2023 with an 8-9 record — the team’s seventh straight losing season.
He said the team established a culture based on accountability and excellence. Penner alluded to the Broncos snapping their 16-game losing streak to the Chiefs and being fairly healthy throughout the year.
While Penner sees improvement, Paton and Payton are aware that there’s more work to be done.
“My (thoughts) on where it should be is a little bit stronger. I felt like this team had a chance to get into the postseason, and I feel the same way now,” Payton said. “I think we’ve begun to put together a program in place relative to the foundation.”
Paton thinks the team needs to continue building depth through the draft. He praised the 2022 draft that featured Pro Bowl returner Marvin Mims Jr. while expressing confidence in cornerback Riley Moss and center Alex Forsyth — two players he said can be starters in the NFL.
He’ll get another opportunity to add a major piece to the puzzle with the No. 12 overall pick in this spring’s draft.
“It’s important to hit on most of your picks, especially when you are picking that high,” Paton said. “We haven’t had a first-round pick since 2021, and that one (All-Pro CB Pat Surtain II) worked out pretty well.”
Penner said he’s just as impatient as the fans to see the franchise revert to its winning ways. He believes Payton and Paton are the right ones to help accomplish that goal.
“I’m very encouraged. I know we have a lot of work to do to get to where we want to be, and this offseason is going to be a busy one,” Penner said.
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