With George Paton having been named the new Denver Broncos GM, let's go over a few things about the Vikings for the past few years.

Thread to follow.

1. Rick Spielman has been top personnel guy for Vikings since 2006. He has the final say on personnel, so every decision can be pinned on him.

But if you're wondering about how Paton may be thinking, we can look at what Spielman did for ideas.

2. First three years, Spielman went through Brad Johnson, Tavares Jackson and Gus Frerotte as the primary starting QB, before he signed Brett Favre in 2009. Prior to that, his top veteran was Sage Rosenfels.

We know Favre's story the next two seasons.

3. After Favre retired, Spielman traded for Donovan McNabb and drafted Christian Ponder in the first round of the 2011 draft. We know the story there.

Matt Cassel was the main starter in 2013.

In 2014, he traded back into the first round for Teddy Bridgwater.

4. If you'll recall, Bridgewater's 2016 season ended because of a serious leg injury, with questions about whether he would play again.

That's what prompted the Sam Bradford trade.

If Bridgewater didn't get injured, no Bradford trade.

5. In 2017, after Bradford was injured, Case Keenum took over. We know what happened there.

Vikings then signed Kirk Cousins in 2018 because Pat Shurmur was hired Giants HC. Keenum was no longer a scheme fit, but Cousins was.

6. So if Paton is like Spielman, it's not a given he'll make a big trade for a QB right off the bat.

Spielman has signed veterans who are stopgaps, the trade for McNabb was the same idea, while the trade for Bradford was "our guy is injured."

7. That brings me to the draft.

Spielman's notable draft picks since 2007:

Adrian Peterson, Sidney Rice, Percy Harvin, Phil Loadholt, Chris Cook, Toby Gerhart, Everson Griffin, Kyle Rudolph, Matt Kalil, Harrison Smith, Sharrif Floyd, Xavier Rhodes, Cordarrelle Patterson,...

8. ...Anthony Barr, Teddy Bridgewater, Jerick McKinnon, Trae Waynes, Eric Kendricks, Danielle Hunter, Stefon Diggs, Dalvin Cook

(Anthony Harris and Adam Thielen were undrafted.)

You'll notice a lot of RBs. Doesn't mean that Paton will take a lot of RBs, though.

9. However, Spielman tends to be more of a "best player available" type of GM.

It won't surprise me if Paton is that type of GM, too.

And, really, that's the type of GM you want.

10. Spielman has been active with trades, both in acquiring and dealing players/picks.

Of note, he was quick to move on from Percy Harvin and got multiple picks for him.

There was also the trade back into the first for Bridgewater.

11. As for free agent signings who are not QBs (notable ones have been mentioned), such players include Greg Jennings, Linval Joseph, Captain Munnerlyn, Alex Boone, Riley Reiff and Latavius Murray.

12. Spielman usually isn't aggressive in free agency, but he definitely pursued Cousins, Jennings, Boone and Reiff.

But Spielman has accumulated comp picks, so he's not about building through FA.

13. It remains to be seen how Paton pursues FA, but if he learned anything from Spielman, it's to pick the times you are aggressive, but play it smart otherwise.

(And one could argue Spielman's aggressive pursuits didn't pan out, hence why you have to be careful there.)

14. Finally, when it comes to taking care of your own, Spielman generally does that, provided he's got the cap space.

If Paton has that approach, that could be good news for Justin Simmons (certainly through cap, but cash is another thing, though there are ways to free it up).

15. The only question to ask is what he does at quarterback.

In summation, it depends on whether Paton thinks he

(a) should commit to Fangio/Shurmur for several years, or just 2021, and

(b) what he thinks of the 2021 QB draft class.

16. On (a), if he wants to give Fangio/Shurmur several years, he can look at (b) and take a QB who needs time to develop.

If not, he needs to look at (b) as "this QB must be like Herbert, who is ready from day one, not like Allen, who needs several years."

17. Because if Paton isn't sure he can stick with Fangio/Shurmur beyond 2021, and he takes a QB who needs time to develop, what happens if the next coaching staff says "that QB is not our guy"?

18. In other words, you have to be convinced you have a QB similar to Herbert to take him, if you think Fangio/Shurmur only deserve 2021.

Otherwise, you're just wasting a pick on a QB who the next staff may not want -- and, no, coaches won't take a QB forced upon him unless...

19. ...said QB has already proven he's the guy (like Herbert).

Therefore, Paton better be convinced a QB he drafts early will be like Herbert, or that Fangio/Shurmur are here for several years.

If "no" to both, don't draft a QB.

20. At any rate, we'll know more over time.

But let's see what Paton does this offseason -- and while we can learn a few things from Spielman, Paton may have his own ideas.

I wish him nothing but the best.