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Broncos fans should remember George Paton’s pre-free agency comments
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- Broncos fans should remember George Paton’s pre-free agency comments
It's fair to say there's been significant angst among Denver Bronco fans to begin free agency. Thus far, Denver has only re-signed their own players, an unusual strategy that has only been employed by one other team at the start of free agency.
NFL insider James Palmer gave some important context to the early moves made in free agency by the Broncos ' front office when he interviewed general manager George Paton at the NFL combine in late February.
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"In the last 18 months, we've done 10 extensions ," Paton told Palmer in a Bleacher Report interview. "Since August, we've done six for $400 million, and just think if we didn't, how daunting this free agency would be... All those guys are core players, Pro Bowl, All-Pro type players, and so I think it's really important to get ahead of it if they're the right players, and so far we've targeted the right players."
Some of the players Denver has brought back include guard Quinn Meinerz , wide receiver Courtland Sutton , defensive lineman Zach Allen and kicker Wil Lutz .
Paton further elaborated on his approach to free agency. "You can't be aggressive every year," Paton said. "You have to be selective, you have to pick your spots. Again, you have to draft and develop younger, hungrier, cheaper, sometimes healthier. But I think it's really important to just pick your spots."
You can view Paton's full comments below.
Denver has drafted well the past few years while under the shadow of the Russell Wilson contract. Denver has picked key role players and future building blocks in recent drafts, including quarterback Bo Nix , running back RJ Harvey , cornerback Jahdae Barron and punter Jeremy Crawshaw . Denver is building a youth movement that can be supplemented by veterans.
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The Broncos are doing exactly what Paton said they were going to do: Picking their spots.
The NFL draft is coming up, and Denver holds nine selections , which will surely address holes in the Broncos ' roster, for a fraction of what some of the free agents this cycle have gone for (and Denver could potentially acquire more picks through trades). We will continue to track free agency rumors, signings and departures on Broncos Wire .
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This article originally appeared on Broncos Wire: NFL free agency: George Paton's pre-free agency comments are telling
