PALM BEACH, Fla. — The stages of the NFL life cycle are never in plainer view than when half the head coaches hold court simultaneously.
Such was the case for the AFC here Monday morning as part of the league’s spring meeting.
There’s first-year New York Jets head coach Aaron Glenn, just getting his feet on the ground. Pete Carroll back in the game but now coaching Las Vegas. Cincinnati’s Zac Taylor discussing megadeals for his star wide receivers. Tennessee’s Brian Callahan holding court and the No. 1 overall pick in the draft. Contenders like Baltimore and Buffalo covering well-worn ground explaining how they might finally get past the big bad wolf in Kansas City.
Tucked in a corner of the makeshift media center, Broncos coach Sean Payton sounded settled-in but unsatisfied. His program is firmly in place going into Year 3. The franchise’s playoff drought is over. Perhaps most pertinent: This spring, Payton fielded no questions about quarterback uncertainty.
“I appreciate not being in that quarterback market,” Payton said. “… When you don’t have it right, it’s one of those positions that can kind of consume you as an organization.”
Having an apparent answer at that position, however, has the inverse impact. Focus can percolate to so many other areas.
It allows resources and attention to be deployed elsewhere. It makes your city all the rosier in the eyes of prospective free agents. It allows you to spend free agency checking off other roster needs rather than jetting around the country looking for Bo Nix.
It makes for a calmer offseason all around, even when a raft of assistant coaches and front office personnel leave for promotions.
“We’re a team players want to play for, and certainly we’re a city that’s very appealing for athletes to want to live,” Payton said. “And I think a lot of that is a result of maybe some of the early success we had last year with a young quarterback.”
Here are a few other quick takeaways from Payton’s 36 minutes with reporters.
The Broncos are excited about their free-agent haul
Here’s a snippet of what Payton said about each of the three major external free-agent adds:
Safety Talanoa Hufanga: “There is a toughness about the way he plays. Sometimes you can be a second responder, sometimes a first responder. He appears first a lot on screen. There’s a style to how he plays. … He’s had a handful of injuries, but there’s a toughness to his game, and you guys will like him. There’s something about him when you meet him and visit with him. That was a big get.”
ILB Dre Greenlaw: “We thought he was going to be highly sought-after. I think the injuries played a little part in how he became a free agent. Otherwise, he doesn’t ever hit the free-agent market. He’s someone whose contract is redone. … It’s a little bit harder to say, ‘We found our starting inside backer’ — whether it’s a ‘Mike’ or a ‘Will’ — it’s harder to say that about a rookie. There’s just certain positions.”
TE Evan Engram: “The vision is pretty clear. Obviously, we feel like he’s someone who can run, gives us a passing threat on third down and in the red zone. He’s got good body control, and I think he’s really good when he gets the ball in his hands. His run-after-catch numbers, statistically-wise, have been good.”
Payton also acknowledged that all three players have dealt with major injuries in recent seasons but thinks the Broncos are in position to benefit anyway.
“Quite honestly, there’s a couple of them that we would maybe have had a much more difficult time signing if they had not had a prior injury,” he said. “… We felt good coming out of it. We felt like our team got better.”
It’s a deep running back draft class
One position the Broncos haven’t addressed in free agency is running back. The Broncos believed that the crop this spring was “pretty lean,” Payton said.
The draft? Just the opposite.
“There’s different types of runners. Sometimes, we refer to a runner as a three-down player or a two-down player. Does this guy have receiving skills? Can he block pressure? As far as the physical characteristics, it’s the one position where height is really not discussed. Short or small is discussed and there’s a difference. They’ve got to have the lower body (strength). In this draft, I’ve seen a number of players that I feel are first- and second-down runners, and I feel like I’ve seen a number of players that can potentially play on third down, which is what you’re looking for.”
Payton also reiterated that it’s important not to forget the returning group of Audric Estime, Jaleel McLaughlin, Tyler Badie and Blake Watson.
“Make no mistake about it: We’re wanting to see our group at home get these opportunities, and I think this group will help,” he said.
Payton is an Evan Rothstein fan
Perhaps the most interesting addition to Denver’s coaching staff this offseason is Evan Rothstein, who was hired as an offensive line assistant but also as the director of game management.
Payton said landing Rothstein has been years in the making.
“I tried to hire him when he was leaving Detroit and he ended up in New England,” Payton said. “I interviewed him in New Orleans. Every season, I’ve always paid attention to what he’s doing. He’s real smart. He’s a football coach, and he’s also someone who has got a great way about him both analytically and from a preparation standpoint. So finally, that worked out.”
Payton didn’t get into what exactly Rothstein’s game management role will look like on game day. It was more about the talent.
“This guy is something. … Having interviewed him, it was just, the minute I felt he was available, it was just ‘Where’s Evan at this year?” Payton said. “Kind of like the Russian hockey player that you’re not sure you can find in the draft. He finally came available.”
In-house extensions likely later this year
The Broncos have several extension candidates already on their roster.
The top of the list includes DL Zach Allen, WR Courtland Sutton and OLB Nik Bonitto.
Payton acknowledged Monday that Sutton is set to take part in voluntary team activities this summer after skipping them last year. Sutton was at the team’s mandatory minicamp last summer but skipped the rest for the first time to make it known he wanted a new contract.
“I’m excited that he’ll be there whenever we get going and we’ll go from there,” Payton said when asked if there’s a timeline for a potential new deal for Sutton. “But I know there isn’t any timeline.”
General manager George Paton, meanwhile, indicated that any extensions are likely to materialize this summer or even toward Week 1.
“You’ve seen how we’ve done our business,” he said. “Typically, let’s get through the draft. We’ll be open to conversations after the draft and into the summer and sometimes into the season as well.”
Denver will be in favor of the new kickoff and overtime proposals
Payton expressed support for a pair of proposed rule changes and said he’s against another.
He likes bringing the overtime rules for regular-season games into alignment with the postseason format, where both teams get the ball regardless of whether the first team scores a touchdown.
He also is in favor of a proposed tweak to the kickoff rule moving a touchback out to the 35-yard line from the 30.
Payton, however, said he’s against a proposal that would see the NFL postseason reseeded by record rather than strictly by divisional outcome.
“Winning the division is important,” Payton said. “I like how our postseason format is laid out, especially compared to any other sport.”
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