Miles
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- Mar 18, 2019
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Despite the lack of offensive capital dedicated to the offense this weekend, Paton believes that unit can also improve. The free-agent addition of Mike Boone, the swap of a sixth-round pick for Teddy Bridgewater and the additions of Meinerz, Williams and second-round running back Javonte Williams can all help a group that ranked 28th in scoring offense in 2020, according to Paton.
"It's been heavy offensive drafts before I came and … we have a young group of offensive players," Paton said when asked why he believes the offense can improve. "I think they need to develop. We made a few tweaks here and there. Obviously we brought in Teddy, so I think the offensive is going to grow and is going to continue to grow. I like the young offensive talent. We did draft a receiver and an offensive lineman and Javonte's not bad. So I do believe we've added quite a bit of players that can help us."
The Broncos, though, did not add players during the draft at three positions that may be considered areas of need.
Perhaps the most notable is the quarterback position, where the team did not make a selection despite having both Justin Fields and Mac Jones available when the Broncos were on the clock at No. 9. Paton previously explained the team's high grade on Surtain led to them passing on a quarterback, and he said Saturday that the team was not close to adding a signal-caller on Days 2 or 3.
And while Paton said the Broncos are "always looking" and will monitor the free-agent market, he is "happy with our group" that includes Bridgewater and incumbent starter Drew Lock.
"I like our room right now," Paton said. "… With Teddy and Drew, they're going to have a great competition. That's what we've wanted all along. We'll let them compete. I do like the room. Does it mean we won't continue to look? No, but I say that about every position. I do look forward to getting Teddy here and Drew and having a great competition."
The Broncos may look harder at the tackle and tight end positions following the end of the draft. Paton said the Broncos "targeted a few" tackles that were selected before the team could take them and "tried at times" to add a tight end.
"It just didn't fall our way," Paton said of the tackle position. " still feel good about our depth. We'll continue to look on the market, in the free-agent market. And then we're signing five offensive lineman in college free agency. Sometimes it just doesn't fall. We had a tackle we liked and he was taken right before, but that's just the way the draft goes."
Paton said the Broncos liked their three current options at tight end — presumably Noah Fant, Albert Okwuegbunam and Andrew Beck — but the team would sign players in college free agency. The Broncos will look to add "another big guy that can block in-line," Paton said.
The roster tinkering is clearly not done. Through a few key offensive additions and a wealth of defensive talent, though, Denver believes its roster is closer to where it needs to be.
"We still have a lot of work to do as a team," Paton said. "But we do believe we got better."