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INDIANAPOLIS — George Paton sees a strong draft class descending upon central Indiana this week.
One knock on the 2024 crop: The combination of extra COVID-era eligibility and the explosion of NIL money at the college level has thinned the ranks, particularly down the draft board.
“I haven’t seen that,” Paton said Tuesday, acknowledging that Denver is still working through the entire class. “Especially in the early rounds, it’s a good draft.”
The Broncos hold the No. 12 pick in April’s draft, putting them on track to make a first-round selection for the first time since taking cornerback Pat Surtain II at No. 9 in 2021.
Denver traded its next two first-rounders in the 2022 trade for Russell Wilson and then another (obtained by trading Bradley Chubb to Miami) to hire Sean Payton out of his contract with New Orleans.
Much of the conversation and speculation will surround the Broncos’ pursuits for a quarterback, but Paton said flatly Tuesday that he thinks an elite player will be on the board if Denver picks at No. 12.
“It just depends on who’s there,” Paton said. “We feel like there’s 12-15 players that are really — that we have high grades on.”
Paton acknowledged the obvious, which is that trading up to the top overall pick or into the top three would come at a huge capital cost, likely including multiple future first-round picks.
“I think you’d really have to love someone,” Paton said. “To move up to No. 1, I don’t know if we have the draft capital to do that. Everything’s up — we’re open to anything — but that would be hard to move up to No. 1, realistically.”
McCarthy’s big week: This week represents an opportunity for all participants, but Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy is considered one of the potential combine risers.
He went 27-1 for the Wolverines under new Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh, including a 15-0, national title-winning 2023 campaign.
“He’s a good player just like seven or eight of the other quarterbacks,” Paton said. “We’re still working through the process. He’s a winner. He’s won a lot. He’s got talent.”
The Broncos had an interview with McCarthy slated for Tuesday night.
Young player updates: Payton and Paton provided updates on a pair of last year’s draft picks in second-round wide receiver Marvin Mims Jr. and third-round linebacker Drew Sanders.
Mims, Payton acknowledged, could have been pushed further offensively.
“I really think the only thing that really stopped his progress as a receiver was us,” Payton said. “It was trying to find roles. He’s playing essentially the same position as Jerry (Jeudy). I think you’re going to see a lot of growth with this player. He’s tough, he can run. We’re certainly excited we have him.
“I think the key for us — I say ‘us’ as coaches — (is) game-planning and evolving. Every time we put his name on a certain play, he hasn’t disappointed. That doesn’t mean the ball always went to him, but the point I’m making is his progress was hampered a little bit more by the depth in the room.”
Sanders bounced between inside and outside linebacker and finished the season playing on the edge. Paton said decisions about his future are still to come — and could continue to change — but that they liked what they saw when Sanders rushed the passer.
“It’s a work in progress,” Paton said. “We thought he finished well on the edge. We’re going to sit down with Drew and the coaches and have those meetings. I think he’ll probably end up on the edge, but he has that flexibility. He’s so talented that it’s hard. Kind of like (Broncos outside linebacker) Baron Browning. We interviewed a kid from Notre Dame (Monday) night who played inside and outside and it’s a blessing, but sometimes it’s a curse because you can’t get settled in at one position.
“But once we left Drew at outside, he finished strong and we feel good about Drew moving forward.”
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