In the NFL’s 24-year tenure of George Paton, he has seldom witnessed conflict during draft night. Despite this, he emphasizes the significance of extensive preparation to minimize tension within the draft room. By the time the Broncos make their first selection in the first round since 2021, their draft board has been meticulously crafted, and every conceivable scenario has been planned. Reaching this stage entails countless hours of deliberation and nationwide travel to evaluate potential prospects. In instances of disagreement, the staff engages in thorough film review and group discussions to reach consensus.
Paton highlights the importance of player learning capabilities, particularly for quarterbacks. They assess how prospects articulate plays and comprehend offensive schemes. Evaluating a prospect’s information processing, especially for quarterbacks, has been a crucial aspect of their preparation over the past two months. They consult college coaches to discern whether a player is an A or B learner, who quickly grasps concepts, or a C learner, indicating talent but requiring additional development.
Despite the significance of the eye test in the draft process, Paton stresses the team’s willingness to explore novel evaluation methods. During a comprehensive meeting with the analytics staff, they considered incorporating artificial intelligence to enhance their decision-making. Payton has embraced analytics, especially for game planning, but he believes there is an urgency to leverage AI to gain a competitive edge within the rules. During the season, he was impressed with Amazon’s Thursday Night Football broadcast’s use of AI to predict quarterback pressures and suggests its potential benefits in developing scenarios for play callers.
The fundamental conundrum in drafting lies in the debate between prioritizing the best talent or addressing specific team needs. NFL draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah emphasizes selecting the best player available, except when considering quarterbacks, where slight adjustments may be made due to their critical importance. The league has historically valued offensive tackles, quarterbacks, cornerbacks, and pressure players, factors that heavily influence Paton and Payton’s discussions when articulating their draft board.
If Denver opts not to select a quarterback in the first round, the question of talent versus need becomes even more prevalent. Should Georgia’s Brock Bowers fall to No. 12, would Denver prioritize his talent at tight end over drafting an edge rusher with the potential for double-digit sacks in a single season? Paton emphasizes the significance of player draft grades in such decisions.
Payton acknowledges media coverage and public speculation surrounding the Broncos’ draft strategy. While he occasionally checks mock drafts and social media posts, he remains focused on the team’s own evaluations. He recognizes that external information can influence player grades, but he approaches it cautiously.
Ultimately, Paton and Payton underscore the importance of adhering to their own evaluations and avoiding external influence. They emphasize that the true outcome of the draft will only be revealed on Thursday night.
