With only nine days before the opening of free agency, it seemed like the right time to write a primer on what’s ahead for George Paton. With an injury-marred, 5-11 season in the rearview and Patrick Mahomes between them and the playoffs, the Broncos have their work cut out for them this off-season.
Credit to both Bernd Buchmasser and rcon14 for the inspiration and framework below.
NFL Cap Situation
As I write this, we still don’t know the official cap ceiling, though I suspect that changes this week. We do know that the cap ceiling can not be lower than $180 million and that it’d be a significant decline from 2020’s $198.2 million.
DENVER He s subtle, this George Paton.
Thrice Thursday the new Broncos general manager name-dropped sports agents Bill Johnson (who represents Ja Wuan James), Jason Chayut (Kareem Jackson) and Ryan Williams (Shelby Harris). As one (unnamed) agent told me after: “Can’t hurt . we read everything.”
He’s a workaholic, this George Paton. The Broncos website shadowed Paton on his morning commute to UCHealth Training Center. Paton, an early riser, clocked in to the job at 4:50 a.m.
“I went into Vic (Fangio’s) office last night at 8:45 and he’s watching a college prospect,” Paton said, sounding like a proud co-worker who best relates to the grinders of the football world.
Disclaimer: The author realizes that the 2021 are probably going to be burning in Salary Cap Hell and can’t pony up much money for free agents. However, you never know what they have planned and it’s the author’s responsibility to highlight the free agent options.
The Steelers have had solid play on the defensive line recently. Tyson Alualu was a major reason why. No. 94 is a free agent though and could leave the Steel City. Should that happen and the Steelers decide that they need to look for an interior defensive linemen, this is who is looking for a deal.
Detroit Lions sign former Michigan State DL Joel Heath to futures contract
Updated Feb 18, 2021;
Posted Feb 18, 2021
Michigan State defensive lineman Joel Heath (92) celebrates after recovering a fumble in the first quarter of their Big Ten football game against Purdue at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing Saturday, October 3, 2015. (Mike Mulholland | MLive.com)
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ALLEN PARK The Detroit Lions signed former Michigan State defensive lineman Joel Heath to a futures contract.
Heath spent four seasons with the Houston Texans after going undrafted in 2016. He opted out of pandemic football while with the Denver Broncos and hasn’t played in an NFL game for more than a year. Heath appeared in 32 games while with the Texans, earning 16 starts and registering 34 tackles and three sacks along the way. Denver waived Heath earlier this month, clearing the way for the Ohio native to return to the state where he played his college ball.