Throughout his first season, head coach Sean Payton has been working to reshape the Denver Broncos in his image. Deciding the fate of general manager George Paton is rumored to be next on the docket for Payton.
Adam Schefter of ESPN reported on January 6 that Payton will likely have the “final say” on Paton’s job security.
“Payton and Paton have worked well together this season, and Payton is known to respect Paton and his abilities. But Payton is expected to have the final say; it is his organization, and he gets to shape it how he wants it,” Schefter said.
The allegation is hardly shocking because Paton’s marquee signing, quarterback Russell Wilson, was benched before Week 17. The Super Bowl-winning coach is actually the one pulling the reins behind the scenes, even though Paton has the title of general manager.
Woody Paige, a journalist for the Denver Gazette, has previously stated that “Payton is the power in football personnel” in Denver.
Paige stated in his piece that was published on April 1, 2023, “Instead of making all the decisions in free agency and the draft, as he did with the previous coach, Paton this time won’t make a pick or a trade without Payton’s approval.”
Payton’s fingerprints on the Broncos’ organization will presumably increase heading into the 2024 offseason.
Miscalculated Decisions Likely Doomed George Paton in Denver
There were “rumblings” regarding Paton’s non-return on December 5, according to The Washington Post’s NFL insider Jason La Canfora. The benching of Wilson may prove to be the tipping point for Paton in Denver.
Prior to the regular season, Wilson signed a five-year, $245 million contract extension with the Broncos after being traded to them in March 2022. Denver will suffer significant losses throughout the following two offseasons if they give an elderly QB such a contract.
Paton additionally whiffed on linebacker Randy Gregory, who signed a five-year, $70 million contract in March 2022. Gregory played 10 games with the Broncos before being traded to the San Francisco 49ers at the 2023 NFL trade deadline.
The costly errors in judgment do not account for the Nathaniel Hackett era’s failure. In the 2022 season, Hackett was sacked by the Broncos after 15 games in his rookie campaign.
That trio of missteps could be Payton’s only defense for cutting ties with Paton.
Could Candidate Possessing Familiarity With Sean Payton Become Next Broncos GM?
The future general manager of the Broncos will most likely be acquainted with Payton. During their tenure with the New Orleans Saints, one potential candidate had overlapping duties with the seasoned coach.
Former Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Pace was mentioned by Lou Scataglia of Predominantly Orange as a possible Paton replacement in 2024.
In his piece that was released on January 4, Scataglia stated, “Payton and Pace have worked together before.” Thus, they are well acquainted with one another. Also, I believe Pace’s prior experience as a GM is a significant positive. Pace isn’t a general manager yet, so even if he doesn’t have the last word on the roster, I believe he would accept Denver’s possible GM position.
Between 2006 and 2014, Pace and Payton collaborated in New Orleans. Pace was the general manager of the Bears from 2015 to 21 after leaving the Saints. His success in the Windy City was not very great.
Chicago’s outstanding defense helped them finish 12-4 and win the NFC North in the 2018 season. The All-Pro linebacker Khalil Mack, who the Bears acquired in a blockbuster trade for him in September of the same year, helped the team finish with the best scoring defense in the league (17.7 points allowed per game).
The Bears only made it to the playoffs once during Pace’s tenure, and that was the most successful season of his career.
Pace ought to be at the top of the list of candidates in the event that Paton is fired because of his prior work with Payton.
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