Sean Payton and George Paton outline their criteria for the Denver Broncos’ upcoming quarterback.
Russell Wilson’s tenure with the Denver Broncos seems to be drawing to a close.
Broncos head coach, speaking on Tuesday, stated, “Next week—Tuesday or Wednesday—we’ll be in meetings with ownership, and I expect that we’re going to know fairly quickly (what we’re doing with Wilson). I would anticipate it being within the next two weeks.”
Both Payton and general manager George Paton addressed reporters ahead of the NFL Combine in Indianapolis. Paton hadn’t made public statements since his end-of-season press conference in January, while Payton’s only recent remarks were made in pre-Super Bowl interviews.
While neither Paton nor Payton explicitly stated that the Broncos are moving on from Wilson, their tone suggested that his departure is imminent.
“We want to see the entire landscape,” Paton remarked. “We had to get through our draft meetings. We had to get through our free agent meetings and evaluate with what we have. We just want to get through the process. Sean needs to see all of these quarterbacks and the coaches need to see all of these quarterbacks before we make an informed decision.”
Payton acknowledged the unpredictable nature of quarterback success, emphasizing that qualities such as mobility and decision-making are crucial. He also stressed the importance of accuracy, leadership, and athleticism in scouting potential quarterbacks.
Paton discussed quarterback prospect J.J. McCarthy, among others, noting his talent and winning record. However, Paton expressed reservations about trading up to the first pick in the draft, citing the lack of draft capital.
In the unpredictable realm of drafting, Payton expressed confidence in the Broncos’ ability to navigate the process effectively, suggesting that their success might be aided by the uncertainty faced by other teams.
