Broncos’ George Paton Throws Cold Water on Trade for 1st-Overall Pick

As we get closer to the 2024 NFL Draft, the Denver Broncos continue to navigate their way through the meticulous scouting and evaluating process for their next quarterback. After two restless seasons of Russell Wilson having come and gone, all signs point to a new man starting under center in the orange and blue next fall.

This year's class is headlined by the 2022 Heisman Trophy winner and USC quarterback Caleb Williams. After generating extensive hype in the college ranks over the preceding months, the general assumption is that Williams has the nod to be the unanimous top selection around the league. Some have even begun to tout him as the best prospect the NFL has seen since Andrew Luck in 2012.

It's no secret that many teams would love to add the services of Williams to their roster, but it is much easier said than done to get a chance to take him. The Chicago Bears currently hold the rights to the first-overall pick, and any team doing business with them would be forced to give up a truckload of assets in return.

While a trade up to get Williams could be a dream scenario for Denver, GM George Paton seemed hesitant on the idea of the Broncos having the ability to facilitate a blockbuster move for it during the NFL Scouting Combine. 

“I think you’d really have to love someone," Paton said. "To move up to the [No.] 1 [pick], I don’t know if we have the draft capital to do that. We’re open for anything, but that would be hard to move up to No. 1, realistically.”

It would be quite a long-shot for the Broncos to have what it takes to bring in the first-overall pick. Without a second-rounder this season and their current first-rounder sitting eleven spots back at 12th, a realistic route of making the acquisition happen doesn't jump off the page.

Bears' GM Ryan Poles recently voiced that any trade involving the first selection would need to 'help our organization significantly.' While there may be other teams out there with the means to do so, it doesn't seem to be the Broncos.

However, despite a potential trade to the top spot being unlikely, Paton went on to say the team has not shifted their stance on the state of the quarterback position.

“It hasn’t changed," Paton explained. "We want to see the entire landscape. 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. [Head Coach] Sean [Payton] needs to see all of these quarterbacks and the [other] coaches need to see all of these quarterbacks before we make an informed decision.”

Expect the Broncos' front office and decision makers to remain diligent in their search for the next signal caller to lead the way for the Mile High as the draft inches closer. The highly-anticipated first round kicks off in just under two months on April 25th in Detroit.