ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — The Broncos' offseason additions will soon take their first official snaps in the orange and blue.
And as free-agent signings J.K. Dobbins, Evan Engram, Dre Greenlaw, Talanoa Hufanga and Trent Sherfield Sr. prepare for their Denver debuts, General Manager George Paton has been impressed by what they've already brought to the Broncos.
"It's hard to know until they're in your building, but it's the leadership they bring," Paton said Thursday. "We thought we had a really good locker room, and they just added to the locker room. We're really excited about that. Then on the field, [they've been] really everything and then some."
As he evaluated each player's skill set, Paton credited Engram's "mismatch ability" and how he can help the Broncos' offense attack the middle of the field. He noted Sherfield's contributions in the passing game as "a plus for us," which came in addition to his known special teams ability.
Dobbins joined the Broncos as a late addition, but Paton said his impact was quickly felt.
"[We had] so much respect for him as a player, but he was here for a day or two and he already had command of the room, the offense, the team," Paton said. "This guy is true edge, true leadership. So that's been important, a great addition."
Defensively, both Hufanga and Greenlaw have stood out to Paton — between the white lines and in the locker room.
"We heard it all," Paton said of Hufanga. "Until you see it on the field, off the field, you really don't believe it, but he has it all. We feel good about him, the movement, the play at safety, the anticipation, ball skills, playmaking. He just settles things down on the back end. … And Dre — Dre is outstanding. Outstanding, [a] tone-setter when he's in that huddle, when he's in that locker room. [He is] everything we could've hoped for."
Paton also evaluated the progress of several of Denver's rookie mid-round draft choices, as he was asked about wide receiver Pat Bryant, defensive end Sai'vion Jones and outside linebacker Que Robinson.
"I think they're all on track," Paton said. "All these rookies develop at different paces. I think our guys are probably ahead of the curve right now. If you look at Pat Bryant and how mature he is, not only as a route runner but just in the meeting rooms, on the practice field. [His] routes, hands, size, strength, big-play ability, 50-50 balls and then you see him blocking. He's ahead of schedule. One thing about Pat, it hasn't been too big for him since he walked in the door.
"Que, he was raw when he got him, and he is still raw, but you see the flashes. You see the talent, especially that last game against New Orleans, but he has had flashes in every game, he has had flashes in practice. [He is] just a really talented kid who wants to be great, and I think he will help us this year.
"Sai'vion, he does the dirty work inside. He's developing a pash-rush arsenal, [and] he's right on track to play this year. So, we are really excited about all those three players."
