The Denver Broncos are making sure 1 of the NFL’s best general managers isn’t going anywhere after signing George Paton to a 5-year contract extension on Friday that keeps him with the Broncos through at least 2030.
“Source: Broncos and GM George Paton reached agreement on a five-year deal that runs through the 2030 season,” ESPN’s Adam Schefter wrote on his official X account.
The Broncos had to move quickly to get Paton after a rumored suitor in the NFC tried to swoop in.
“The Vikings had ramped up their GM search this week, with rumors of their interest for George Paton,” DNVR’s Zac Stevens wrote on his official X account on Friday. “The Broncos completely shut that down by giving George a new 5-year contract.”
Broncos co-owner Greg Penner put out a statement about re-signing Paton following a 14-3 regular season and No. 1 seed in the AFC playoffs in 2025. It was a season that ended with a heartbreaking, 10-7 home loss to the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship Game.
“We are pleased to announce a new five-year contract for George Paton that reflects our confidence in his leadership, vision and the overall direction of our team,” Penner said. “As our general manager, George has demonstrated a strong commitment toward building a winning roster while forming a collaborative and supportive partnership with Sean Payton. I’ve enjoyed working with George over the last four seasons and appreciate the alignment we share in positioning the Broncos for sustained success.”
Broncos Praised for Bringing Back Paton
Paton is now regarded as not just 1 of the elite executives in the NFL but in all of professional sports after helping bring the Broncos become 1 of the NFL’s elite teams over the last 2 seasons.
“(Paton is) truly considered one of the best GMs in football when you ask around,” Bleacher Report’s James Palmer wrote on his official X account. “A great evaluator of talent and team building. Beloved by his staff in Denver where he is now locked in. The Broncos are set up very well right now.”
Paton’s Brainchild Called ‘Worst Trade of Decade’
Paton, who was hired in 2021, made what Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox called the “Worst NFL Trade of the Last 10 Years” in 2022 when he traded for Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson.
Wilson was released following the 2023 season, which resulted in an NFL record $85 million dead cap hit spread out over the last 2 seasons.
“The Denver Broncos’ ill-fated 2022 trade for Russell Wilson has largely been overshadowed by the disastrous deal Cleveland made for Deshaun Watson in the same offseason,” Knox wrote. “However, that doesn’t mean that Denver’s deal was a good one. In fact, the Wilson trade might be considered the worst of the last decade if not for the Watson debacle. The Broncos coughed up two first-round picks, two second-round picks, a fifth-round pick, quarterback Drew Lock, defensive lineman Shelby Harris and tight end Noah Fant to acquire Wilson and a fourth-round pick. The Broncos then signed Wilson to an extension worth $242.6 million over five years with $161 million guaranteed.”
The hiring of head coach Sean Payton seems to have solved most of Paton’s problems.
“Paton might have been shaky a couple years ago after (Nathaniel) Hackett/Russ, but he bounced back thru shrewd draft picks and right personality to partner with Sean Payton,” Broncos reporter Mike Klis wrote on his official X account. “No one bats 1.000 in this business. Paton moved on and made things right. Broncos were 5-11 year before he was hired. They’re now coming off 14-3.”
Broncos Sign GM George Paton to 5-Year Extension After NFC Team Showed Interest