Broncos brass sets focus toward 2025 NFL Draft

After a successful free agency period that addressed key needs, Head Coach Sean Payton and General Manager George Paton have their sights on upgrading their roster via the 2025 NFL Draft.

In the midst of the NFL Owners Meetings that kicked off yesterday, General Manager George Paton and Head Coach Sean Payton reflected on their endeavors to date and pontificated about the future.

Both were pleased with the results of their successful free agency period with key additions that bolstered both sides of the ball. They believe the roster at this point in time compared to last season is demonstrably better. Moreover, both are relieved that finding a franchise quarterback is no longer on their to-do list.

“I would say we felt good coming out of it. We felt like our team got better from a football makeup standpoint and toughness. We will continue to use that momentum as we get closer to the draft and then even after the draft,” remarked Payton.

Instead of the Broncos being rated as one of the worst teams in the National Football League, a lot of analysts have given them praise for what they’ve accomplished to date. All things considered; the Broncos certainly are in a much better position now as the 2025 NFL Draft approaches. Even so, both Paton and Payton know their efforts to improve the team this offseason isn’t over.

“When you’re sitting in my chair, you’re always trying to build every day. Even when the draft’s over, it’s like, ‘UFL, what’s going on there?’ Listen… [OLB] Dondrea Tillman. So, it just never ends, and it never ends with the scouts. You’re always building. You can never get complacent in this job or you’re going to get passed up,” stated Paton.

With the draft just a few weeks away, the Broncos’ brass is laser-focused on strategizing and finalizing their board. Paton noted that they will begin their draft meetings starting on Wednesday which will extend into later next week. That will be followed up with what he classified as ‘group studies’ — likely a deep dive of scenarios and discussions on how scouts and personnel view prospects available in this year’s class.

The draft process is exhaustive with a seemingly endless number of variables and tiny moving parts. Though in one respect, Broncos Country could deduce one absolute that will transpire in a few short weeks. And what would that be? Picking a running back in this year’s loaded class which Paton confirmed yesterday.

“It’s a strong class. There are different flavors throughout the draft. I think you can get a good back in the second round up and all the way to the sixth round. That’s how it is. There’s just so many of them,” stated Paton.

“The first and second down power back, you have the change of pace, you have the third down and you have the three down. [There are] not as many three-down backs, but it’s a good class. We’ll get a [running] back in this draft.”

Paton acknowledging the depth of this year’s class shouldn’t be a surprise. After all, he’s leading the charge with his robust staff of scouts searching every nook and cranny to find the best players to improve the Broncos aspirations for in 2025. However, citing this may lead some to reconfigure what they believe the team will do with their first pick in April’s draft. It’s arguably the biggest need on the roster, but that doesn’t necessarily mean Denver has to use a first-round selection to address it.

Outside of the running back tidbit, Paton acknowledged that the Broncos have the flexibility to move up or down the draft board thanks to how they feel about their roster. Though he casually joked he wouldn’t start bugging Payton about wanting to trade back and acquire more picks until the day of the draft.

Additionally, both wouldn’t rule out adding to the team’s strengths—the offensive and defensive lines—sometime in April either. They have certainly done their homework on trench players and in my opinion, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Top 125 selections to fortify those groups. And that elusive ‘Joker’? Both he and Payton believe they have one in Evan Engram, but that won’t preclude them from adding another mismatch weapon on offense via the draft.

“I don’t think the search is ever over. I do think we have a ‘Joker,’ we have a mismatch tight end that we really like. But again, we’re always looking for the best players,” added Paton.

Who the best players are and who the Broncos will pick are yet to be determined. That will be an ongoing process until they are officially on the clock in just over three weeks’ time. While Paton nor Payton gave any hints on particular players of interest [and that’s to be expected], Payton did remark that toughness was an important trait for prospects to have.

“Well, it’s up there. It’s up there with football IQ. It’s an extremely physical game, and at some point, there’s a team that takes it more than they give it each week. So, it’s important to have not only physically tough, but mentally tough-minded players.”

For the first time in a handful of seasons, the Broncos will have the luxury of navigating this year’s draft with a pick in the first four rounds. With little significant holes on the roster, the Broncos certainly could be aggressive when the rubber meets the road in 23 days. How it all plays out remains to be seen.

But know this—the Broncos’ brass is ready to rise to the occasion and is diligently preparing for anything that comes their way—and Paton and the staff are looking forward to putting the final touches to round out their roster for their 2025 season.

“Now as we head into the draft, we’re picking a little further back. We’re picking [at No.] 20. Who’s going to be there? Do we have to move up? Maybe we move back? All those scenarios come into play. The challenges are always ahead, no matter what.”