"It's definitely a great storyline, but to us, it means way more than just a storyline," Johnson said. "It's something bigger than that."

Both Helm and Ferguson have fond memories of watching the Broncos, and it's possible they could soon play in a stadium where they grew up watching their hometown team.

Broncos players said they feel ownership "significantly contributes to a positive team culture" and that the group is "extremely committed to building a competitive team."

"This draft, we're still getting to learn and we're still getting to know these players," Paton said Tuesday. "I don't think there's a big difference from [No.] 10 to 20 in the draft, really. I think you can sit at [No.] 20 and maybe get the same caliber of player."