AFC West Notes: Broncos, Bolts, Durban
The topic of a Broncos extension for GM George Paton has come up a few times this offseason. The Vikings were briefly connected to an attempt to reunite with the former Minnesota exec, but for the most part, Paton has been more closely tied to a Broncos re-up. Sean Payton said that should be expected, and CEO Greg Penner followed suit this week by indicating (via the Denver Gazette’s Chris Tomasson) he is “sure we’ll get that sorted out.” As for Paton, he would like a second Broncos contract as well. His six-year deal expires after the 2026 season.
“We’ll get there,” Paton said, via 9News’ Mike Klis. “Love it here. Love the ownership. Sean. We’ve got one of the best coaches in the league, best ownership. We have a really good team. So I’m happy to be here.”
Although Paton was at the helm for three poor decisions in 2022 — the Nathaniel Hackett hire, the Russell Wilson trade and the QB’s subsequent extension that caused a then-record-setting dead money hit two years later — he survived that and led the charge in building a contender around Bo Nix. Payton has taken over as the head honcho in Denver, but the GM has done well to time Broncos extensions to bring value. Six of the Broncos’ original-ballot Pro Bowlers last season were extended in 2024 or 2025, with Quinn Meinerz paid before his first All-Pro slate and Patrick Surtain re-upped before his Defensive Player of the Year campaign. While the Vikings have not yet launched their GM search, it would surprise if the Broncos and Paton did not work out a deal soon (Minnesota would need Denver permission to speak with Paton about its GM vacancy).
Here is the latest from the AFC West:
- The Broncos re-signed a host of regulars last month, bringing back the likes of Alex Singleton, Justin Strnad, Adam Trautman, Sam Ehlinger and Alex Palczewski. Atop Payton’s list of retention priorities, however, stood J.K. Dobbins. “Ahead of all others,” Payton said (via the Denver Post’s Luca Evans). “Now, that’ll anger people. We know he’s been injured. We understand. And the issues haven’t been soft tissue-driven. But he’s someone that’s one of those, compound multipliers. Like, he brings 10 others along with him, in a positive light.” Dobbins, 27, suffered a Lisfranc injury on a hip-drop tackle last November. Paton said he would have played in the Super Bowl had the Broncos managed to upset the Patriots without Nix. Dobbins expressed interest in a Broncos extension before his injury and was a top-five rusher when he went down. Denver sprang for a much bigger guarantee ($8MM) compared to 2025 ($2.1MM) and will bet on one of the NFL’s most injury-prone players once again.
- Denver also worked out a revised deal to keep another regular, with KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson indicating Matt Peart accepted a pay cut to stay. The veteran swing tackle is now tied to a one-year, $2MM deal with $755K guaranteed. Peart was Denver’s first choice to replace left guard Ben Powers, but the backup — previously tied to a two-year, $7MM pact — suffered a knee injury in his only start. That led Palczewski into the lineup, and the latter is back on a two-year deal worth $9.5MM.
- Quentin Johnston came up as a trade candidate last month, but ESPN.com’s Kris Rhim notes the Chargers — despite the TCU product being a Tom Telesco draftee — still believe in the former first-round wideout. Jim Harbaugh and GM Joe Hortiz regularly praise Johnston, who has led the Bolts in TD receptions in each of the past two seasons, though they did draft Tre Harris in last year’s second round to complement Ladd McConkey. One season remains on Johnston’s rookie deal, with the Bolts having until May 1 to decide on a fifth-year option that costs $18MM. That is a lofty guarantee given the investments in McConkey and Harris, and Rhim notes the right trade offer could change the Bolts’ mind here.
- We heard in March the Raiders‘ succession plan involves minority owner Egon Durban having the first crack to buy a controlling stake — though, Mark Davis has not intention of selling right now — and SI.com’s Albert Breer adds that Durban is slated to buy another 7% of the Raiders this year. Durban already owns 7.5% of the franchise. The NFL approved Durbin’s stake increase this week, per ESPN.com’s Stephen Holder. Davis has said this will change nothing about the way the franchise is run.
NFL Owners To Vote On Raiders Succession Plan
Raiders owner Mark Davis still has no intention of selling his majority stake in the franchise, but that won’t stop the NFL and the organization from preparing a succession plan.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, league owners will soon vote on a plan that would give Silver Lake co-CEO Egon Durban the first opportunity to buy the team. The vote is expected to take place at the annual league meeting on March 29.
Durban is currently a limited partner within the organization. Back in late 2024, NFL owners approved the sale of a 15 percent stake in the Raiders to Durban and fellow limited partner Michael Meldman, the founder of Discovery Land Co.. Durban and Meldman currently each own 7.5 percent of the franchise.
If the vote goes through, it would allow Durban to buy the Raiders if and when Davis or his heirs decided to sell. League owners would still have to approve that transaction, but the upcoming vote will signal whether the other 31 teams are open to letting Durban join their exclusive club. Per Schefter, the NFL’s Finance Committee has already approved the “option agreement.”
At the same time, owners will also vote on Davis immediately selling a roughly seven percent share of the franchise to Durban and Meldman. That would put the valuation for the franchise at around $10 billion. Last August, Forbes valued three organizations at more than $10 billion: the Cowboys ($13 billion), Rams ($10.5 billion), and Giants ($10.1 billion).
Davis still owns close to 75 percent of the franchise. Besides the sales to Durban and Meldman, Davis famously sold a five percent stake in the franchise to Tom Brady back in 2024. That transaction also saw Knighthead Capital Management co-founder Tom Wagner purchase a five percent stake, while Hall of Fame defensive end Richard Seymour purchased a 0.5 percent stake. As SI.com’s Albert Breer notes, Durban is “Brady’s guy,” so there’s clear support for the sale from within the organization.
The organization has been in the Davis family since Al Davis purchased the franchise back in 1972. The Raiders quickly emerged as one of the premier teams, winning three Super Bowls between 1972 and 1983. The team has only had 10 playoff appearances (including one Super Bowl loss) since. Mark Davis took over ownership when his father passed away in 2011. Under Mark’s leadership, the Raiders have had a pair of winning seasons and zero playoff wins, with the Raiders shuffling through eight head coaches (not including interim HCs) over that span.
Raiders Hire Headhunter For HC/GM Search; Pete Carroll Among Top HC Candidates
The Raiders were already looking for a new head coach, and after firing Tom Telesco, they’re looking for a new general manager as well.
The team has brought in headhunter Jed Hughes of consulting firm Korn Ferry to join their search process, per Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports. Hughes coached in college and the NFL for almost 20 years and has since helped multiple teams hire coaches and executives, including the Packers and the 49ers. He will join Tom Brady as a key voice in the direction of the Raiders this offseason.
Hughes’ NFL experience includes a two-year stint as the Vikings’ defensive backs coach under Bud Grant in 1982 and 1983, giving him a connection with one of the Raiders’ head coach candidates. Grant retired after the 1983 season, but returned to Minnesota in 1985 and hired Pete Carroll in Hughes’ former position.
Carroll is a serious candidate for the HC job in Las Vegas, according to Vincent Bonsignore Las Vegas Review-Journal. He has already interviewed for the same job with the Bears. Carroll stepped down as the Seahawks’ head coach last year, but remained with the team as an advisor.
Brady has plenty of his own connections around the league, including a relationship with Buccaneers general manager John Spytek, according to Jones. Spytek was Brady’s teammate at Michigan in 1999 and later helped bring the quarterback to Tampa Bay as the team’s vice president of player personnel. The Buccaneers then won Super Bowl LV in Brady’s first year.
Brady isn’t the only Raiders minority owner who could impact the team’s ability to attract top candidates. Egon Durban, CEO of investment firm Silver Lake, purchased 7.5% of the team in December, per Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer. The persuasive power of Brady’s reputation and Durban’s financial resources could be a key factor in a crowded coaching market this offseason.
Egon Durban, Michael Meldman Have Deals In Place To Purchase Raiders Stakes
DECEMBER 7: Vincent Bonsignore of the Las Vegas Review-Journal notes the Raiders deals will indeed be on the agenda at the upcoming league meeting. Full ratification could therefore take place soon.
NOVEMBER 21: Earlier in 2024, the deals allowing Tom Brady, Tom Wagner and Richard Seymour to purchase a total of 10.5% of the Raiders was approved. Agreements are now in place for two more minority owners to join the organization. 
Silver Lake co-CEO and Endeavor board chairman Egon Durban has a deal with Raiders controlling Mark Davis, as first reported by Ben Fischer of the Sports Business Journal. Durban will be joined by Discovery Land Company founder and chairman Michael Meldman provided their purchases are formally approved. Each will acquire a 7.5% stake should the deals go through.
Davis will still maintain control of the organization in the event the Durban and Meldman purchases receive approval. At least 24 of the league’s 32 owners will need to give the deals the green light, something which could happen during the NFL’s special league meeting next month. The finance committee has already reviewed the terms of the agreements, Vic Tafur of The Athletic notes (subscription required). A recommendation for approval could pave the way to the ownership group at large finalizing the deals.
One potential issue on that front is the fact that Endeavor has a sports agency arm called WME Sports. Durban owns a stake in the company, which has (among other athletes) NFL players as its clientele. By rule, NFL owners cannot also represent players or coaches; as a result, Durban will need to divest from WME as a condition of his Raiders purchase being approved. Fischer reports Durban has given assurances to the NFL that such a move will take place within four months of the deal being going through.
“WME Sports’ football group continues to operate business as usual, and we are prepared for various scenarios as it relates to our football representation business, which is thriving,” a company statement reads. “Our priority remains creating growth and opportunity for our clients and partners.”
Durban and Meldman’s purchases will come in part from Davis’ equity in the Raiders, as well as from the Boscacci and Lovingfoss families, descendants of some of the franchise’s original investors. Full financial terms are not known, but Fischer reports the deals will check in at a “much higher price” than the ones Brady, Wagner and Seymour paid for their shares (which valued the franchise at $3.5 billion).
Mark Davis has been in place as the Raiders’ controlling owner since his father Al passed away in 2011. The 69-year-old is set to remain in his current capacity for the foreseeable future, but further additions to his ownership group could be coming soon.