Insider: Broncos' coaching search could cost GM George Paton his job

Sports Illustrated NFL Insider Albert Breer believes Denver's ownership group, the Walton-Penner family, will do whatever it takes to get a respected head coach -- even if it has to fire GM George Paton.

"If the owners need to bring in a certain GM to attract a coach, that's where things could get a little sketchy...for Paton," wrote Breer. 

Breer speculated that a team must hire a renowned front-office executive—New Orleans assistant GM Jeff Ireland, for example—to land a well-regarded candidate such as former Saints HC Sean Payton. According to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, Payton is one of the coaches Denver covets most.

Denver's owner Greg Penner has already taken power out of Paton's hands. 

"The new head coach will report to me," he said recently, 

Penner has no loyalty to Paton. The previous ownership group hired the general manager in early 2021. 

Paton hired recently fired Denver HC Nathaniel Hackett, which could tank his chances to remain. Under Hackett, the Broncos were 4-11.