Mile High Report
Happy Saturday, Broncos Country. What a wild first game to start the college football playoffs! The Alabama Crimson Tide looked like they were out of it early on but roared back with 27 straight points to wind up defeating the Oklahoma Sooners. Let’s hope today’s games are just as eventful. ICYMI: Here is last week’s installment that highlights the games and players to watch.
For today’s installment of Future Broncos, I thought I’d take a break from talking prospects and focus on something else. A focus and analysis about how the Denver Broncos find themselves among the top teams in the National Football League this season.
Just a few years ago, it seemed like the Broncos were in line for a lengthy rebuild after the failed Russell Wilson trade. After incurring over $90 million in dead money against the cap the past two seasons, Denver was operating at a disadvantage compared to other teams.
Regardless, Head Coach Sean Payton and his coaching staff have been able to reel off back-to-back playoff bound seasons immediately after sending Wilson packing. They deserve a huge amount of credit for righting the ship so quickly. However, it’s also important to acknowledge George Paton’s success as a general manager.
While some moves have certainly been questionable, Paton’s drafting prowess is a big reason why the Broncos have a strong foundation of players that will have them competitive for years to come. Let’s take a trip down memory lane and do a review of each draft class under his leadership.
The Class of 2021
Paton’s first class is one I’d chalk up as a clear success. Patrick Surtain II, Quinn Meinerz, and Jonathon Cooper have proven to be gems and earned long-term extensions. The best cornerback in the league and reigning DPOY, an All-Pro guard, and an underrated edge rusher. Those are all great selections.
Now with other teams, Javonte Williams and Baron Browning are the only other players still active in the league. Having a better hit rate on Day 3 would be ideal given the number of picks, but Cooper becoming a quality player for a late seventh-round draft class is beyond impressive. It’s a shame that Caden Sterns’ career was derailed by injuries.
The Class of 2022
The Broncos didn’t have a first-round pick in ‘22 due to the Wilson trade. Even so, they struck gold with Nik Bonitto at the end of the second round. We’ll gladly take All-Pros at pick #64 every day of the week. The former Sooners standout is ascending into one of the NFL’s most dynamic defenders. That really helps out the success rate of this class.
Luke Wattenberg as a fifth-round pick recently earned an extension. He has been a solid starter and is the first center in ages the team has drafted and offered a second contract to. Additionally, Denver is finally starting to see some major progressive from Eyioma Uwazurike.
Delarrin Turner-Yell and Matt Henningsen are still on the team’s practice squad. Unfortunately, Greg Dulcich...
