New Broncos General Manager George Paton channeled old Broncos GM John Elway at least early in his first pre-draft press conference since taking over the day-to-day football operations. In his opening statement, Paton said that he likes where the team is at, and as Elway said every April for the last decade, Paton also offered, "we like where we are at 9, we could move up, or we could move back" or of course stick at No. 9 and take the best player available.
It's almost like a rite of Spring a Broncos GM uttering those words. Below is Paton's Opening Statement:
Paton did offer one thing that Elway may not have in recent years. When asked if the team has made calls to move up, Paton said they did not make any calls to move up yet, but they have been receiving calls about moving back.
Of course the one topic driving almost all Broncos conversation these days, and really until the next Elway or Peyton Manning come along will be about the Quarterback. Paton wouldn't offer much breakdown about the QB class at the top of the draft, where as many as 5 players could go in the top 10, and some believe the first 5 picks could all be signal callers. But, Paton did emphasize Drew Lock may be the incumbent starter, but he is far from secure in that role and he will have to beat someone out for the gig, the question is, who?
Ideally if your Paton or anyone else in Broncos Country, you don't want to be picking inside the Top 10, or even the Top 20 again for some time, because it means you're making the playoffs every year, as folks who bleed Orange & Blue are accustom to. But for now, it appears that Paton has settled in quite comfortably to his new role running the organization, and now in a week, we will finally know his draft philosophy when next week's first round begins Thursday at 5 o'clock Mountain Time.