Horse Tracks: ‘It’s only a team on the rise if we take advantage of this offseason’

GM George Paton and head coach Sean Payton know how important free agency and the Draft will be — even without needing to find a QB.

Good morning, Broncos Country!

Although free agency is just over a week away, at the NFL Combine last week, the obvious attention was all on college players and the upcoming NFL Draft.

And while most of that attention is always on the first-round pick (as was my attention last week), the second round could be just as interesting for Denver. For the first time since 2021, the Broncos will have both a first- and second-round pick in the Draft, and GM George Paton noted that having both allows a lot more flexibility.

“It’s really beneficial,” Paton said of having picks in both rounds and having the opportunity potentially to move back in the first or second. “It helps you work the draft board a little easier when you have a second. When you don’t have that second, it’s hard to move up in the first. It’s huge. The second round is a key area. We’ve done pretty good in the second, so it’s great to have it.”

Having been a little jilted by several of John Elway’s subpar second-round picks — including Brock Osweiler, Montee Ball, Cody Latimer, Ty Sambrailo, Adam Gotsis — I had forgotten that several gems came from that round too — Courtland Sutton, Javonte Williams, Nik Bonitto and Marvin Mims.

So there can be some gold there.

The Broncos will pick at No. 20 in the first and then No. 51 in the second. Ironically, a lot of mock drafts have the Broncos going tight end or running back in both rounds.

Paton wasn’t giving anything away last week in Indianapolis and neither was the head coach. In a rare press conference moment, both the question and answer were intriguing.

“Good question,” Sean Payton said after being asked if taking a tight end or running back would help Bo Nix’s development as a young QB. “The running back and tight end could obviously help in his development, and then I would also say a really good elite pass rusher would help in his development and a really good cover corner. I’m only saying that, meaning the best player that helps the team get better is going to help in his development.”

Payton added that “getting him weapons” is important but helping the team overall is equally crucial to the quarterback.

“At No. 20, we will have some good options,” Payton said. “We are here to sort through those options right now, and we will go from there.”

We all know Paton likes to move back and collect his picks, but since Payton has been around, trading picks away to move up has not been out of the question. The GM certainly doesn’t seem inclined to do that with No. 20, but who knows at 51?

Both GM and coach are aware, however, of the high stakes in this draft. Even though the Broncos aren’t taking a quarterback, the team needs to win in the offseason to make the 2025 campaign successful.

“It’s only a team on the rise if we take advantage of this offseason,” Payton said. “Like Sean said, nothing’s guaranteed moving forward. We made the playoffs. We lost in the [AFC] Wild Card [Round]. You start over, and that’s what we’re doing. We’re starting over. Our sole focus is just upgrading this team each and every day.”

Broncos/NFL News

What I learned about the Broncos at the NFL combine: Picture at WR, ILB gets clearer – The Athletic
The Broncos should reach terms on an extension with Courtland Sutton, but there may not be major wide receiver moves in free agency.

Bo Nix and the ‘divine discontent’ that will fuel the Broncos QB’s offseason work – The Athletic
“The details are everything with Bo,” quarterback instructor David Morris says. “He’s really intense about the way he works.”

Broncos General Manager Gives Encouraging Update On Star Wide Receiver Extension – Athlon Sports
Denver Broncos general manager George Paton gave an encouraging update on an extension for star wide receiver Courtland Sutton.

Report: Broncos ‘Figure to Sign’ Backup QB in Free Agency
Bo Nix is the only QB currently under contract for 2025.

Everything we learned from Sean Payton and George Paton at the NFL Combine – DNVR Sports
“It’s a little clearer,” Broncos head coach Sean Payton said.

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Overtime periods can have a pivotal impact on game results. Here are key facts on regular-season and postseason overtime rules in the NFL.

Bengals put franchise tag on Tee Higgins again; now what? – ESPN
For the second year in a row, the Bengals tagged Higgins. Is it a placeholder for an extension or his path out of Cincinnati?

How Stafford staying in L.A. benefits both him and the Rams – ESPN
The Rams are focusing on the short term, keeping the quarterback who gives them the best chance to win another Super Bowl.

NFL Mock Draft 2025: College football writers weigh in on the first round’s top picks – The Athletic
There’s no group better qualified to assess the potential top picks in this year’s class than the writers who covered them in college.