Clayton: As the season goes on, George Paton’s grade keeps improving

Broncos general manager George Paton deserves, and has received, a lot of credit for what he did this season.

He made the Broncos secondary one of the best in football. He secured the receiving corps by giving more than $25 million to Courtland Sutton and Tim Patrick.

What he doesn’t get credit for is what he did in the draft.

At the top of the draft, the Broncos acquired two studs. Cornerback Patrick Surtain, the first-round pick, is a star who could end up being a contender for NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year. Second-round pick Javonte Williams looks like he will be a star running back of the presence and the future.

But Paton ended up getting six choices who have played and played well. Guard Quinn Meinerz, a third-round pick, has four starts and looks as though he can be a starter in years ahead. Baron Browning, an inside linebacker, was a third pick who has filled in because of injuries and has five starts. Fifth-round pick Caden Stern has one start because the team is loaded at safety, but it appears he has a great future ahead of him.

Normally, a successful draft is one in which the top three picks eventually become starters. They may have exceeded that. With about 19 veterans becoming unrestricted free agents after the season, that’s huge. The Broncos have good young corps of young players who can help.

The keys are Surtain and Williams. Both look as though they have Pro Bowl potential. Paton has done an exceptional job this year.