Broncos hire Vikes’ Paton as new G.M. … Earlier today, Denver announced that they had hired former Minnesota exec George Paton to become the Broncos’ new general manager. Paton replaces John Elway who remains as the team’s president, but who steeped aside from day-to-day personnel decisions earlier this month. Paton had spent 14 seasons with the Vikings as assistant general manager and is generally considered to be one of the NFL’s rising young personnel people. Paton takes over a Broncos’ team that hasn’t been to the playoffs the past five seasons and faces a number of critical roster development questions, not the least of which is whether 2nd year QB Drew Lock is the answer at the position. Lock, the Broncos’ 2nd round pick in 2019 has shown flashes, but in a division with Patrick Mahomes and now maybe Justin Herbert, flashes likely isn’t going to get it done. Denver currently has the 9th pick in this year’s opening round and in a QB rich could conceivably get a shot at one of this year’s top prospects at the position. Stay tuned!
