George Paton's Late-Round Magic: Eric Gentry

0:00It's April 8th, from breaking news to Sunday match-ups. This is NFL News Today, powered by AI. George Patton has been killing it as the Broncos GM since 2021, especially digging a value in the late rounds of the NFL draft. Guys like Senator Luke Wattenberg earned a second deal, while Chris Abrams drain, E. Yoma Ua-Zerike, and Punter Jeremy Crosshaw stepped up big as key, pieces. Even wide out Devon Valey, a seventh-rounder from 2024, climbed to number two opposite Courtland Sudden before getting flipped to new, Orleans for a fourth and seventh-round pick. Heading into the 2026 draft, Denver only has one top 100 selection, so Patton needs those mid-to-late round hits to shore up the roster. One name popping up as a perfect fit is USC linebacker Eric Gentry, projected as a seventh-rounder, according to draft buzz. Every turn heads at the NFL Combine with his wild 6-foot 7-frame at 221 pounds plus 35-inch

1:02arms for a huge tackle radius. He skipped the 40 there, but blazed the 4.54 at USC Pro Day, which would have ranked sixth among linebackers. In his senior year, he balled out with 76 tackles, 51 solo, seven tackles for loss, 3 stacks, and five forced fumbles across, 52 college games. He's lanky, and he's to pack on some muscle for power off the snap, but his length in instincts scream upside. Meanwhile, the Broncos are a thinnet linebacker even after resigning Alex Singleton and Justin Strohnad. They cut Dre Greenlaw, leaving a hole. Payton could slide in fresh talent like Gentry to battle Jonah Ellis and others for spots, keeping that late-round magic alive just when they needed.