George Paton happy with trades: ‘I just think that you have to take a chance.’

This Draft has been an eventful one for the Broncos. CB Patrick Surtain was selected in the first round, but the second day saw some trading action.

In trading up for the Falcons’ No. 35 then trading down with the Giants (71 to 76 and 164) and the Saints (no. 76 for no. 98 and 105), the Broncos acquired RB Javonte Williams, OLB Quinn Meinerz and LB Baron Browning.

GM George Paton says he’s really happy with how it turned out.

“I think we moved back 20 spots if I’m not mistaken and got two late third-round picks,” Paton recounted, “and we still got the two players we wanted which is rare when you move back that far.”

When asked what made him comfortable with trading back and how he weighed that decision, the GM mentioned that math plays a heavy role. He also mentioned that having six prospective athletes on their board helped their chances of at least getting a few.

“We have charts that we use, which I think the whole league uses,” he said, “We do the math, and we take the risks...if you move back 20 spots and you have six or seven players, there’ll be one there.”

“I just think that you have to take a chance,” he continued. “We didn’t just have two players, we had six. They were our top two and they were still there.”

Paton received more trade offers on their third round pick but declined it to make sure Baron Browning would still be there.

“We had a lot of action on that pick, but Baron Browning was too special to move back,” he said.

Paton admitted that he’s disappointed in not having a fourth-round pick, but noted that they have six from rounds five through seven.

He also said he doesn’t necessarily think the draft board will thin out in later rounds.

“There’s going to be players that can help us.” he said. “I think that maybe it is overstated that it’s thinned out.”

We’re well into Day 3 now and the Broncos have already selected two new picks, Texas safety Caden Sterns and Indiana safety Jamar Johnson. How we feeling, Broncos Country?