Patience is a tricky concept in an instant gratification world.

Many hope the Broncos continue to have patience with Drew Lock, but they failed to give that grace to George Paton.

Some fans thought the new GM was slow out of the gates to start his first-ever free agency as the main man. But, look back on last week and Paton did a great deal to reestablish Denver as a top-5 defensive unit.

And it also was an indication Paton likes the way Vic Fangio coaches defense.

Smartly, the new GM found a way to get a deal done with one of the best safeties in the NFL, Justin Simmons. Simmons is now the highest-paid safety in NFL history, and he’s earned that giant payday. Not only is Simmons one of the best free safeties — his 9 interceptions the last two years combined are second-most by a safety — but he’s a leader on the defense and in the community.

Simmons is a cornerstone of the current defense, the same way Von Miller has been for a decade. That was another great call by Paton, to keep Miller around in hopes of restructuring him for a longer-term deal. Miller on the left and Bradley Chubb on the right side of the line rushing opposing quarterbacks is what Broncos fans hoped to watch more of since Chubb’s phenomenal rookie campaign.

The only time those two played a full season together, in 2018, they combined for 26.5 sacks and 14.5 of those were from Miller. Can he regain his superstar form this year?

Keep going, and inside on the line Paton smartly signed Shelby Harris to a three-year deal worth $27 million. Harris missed some games last year due to COVID-19, but he still enjoyed a career-high 11 QB hits and batted down seven passes at the line of scrimmage. He’s incredibly valuable because he can bring needed pressure from the middle of the line of scrimmage, but is also smart enough to know when he won’t be able to get home and then times his jumps with perfection.

Simply, Paton went all-in up front and Denver’s defense should be able to pin their ears back and get after the quarterback like we haven’t seen since 2015. That year, the famed Super Bowl 50 season, the Broncos led in sacks (52), QB hits (123) and their passer rating against (78.8) was fourth-best in the NFL.

One of the reasons Denver was so good at sacking and hitting opposing quarterbacks that year was due to the No Fly Zone, of course. And Paton has seemingly tried to replicate that success, too.

First, he went out and signed man-to-man cornerback Ronald Darby, who had a resurgence in Washington in 2020 after a down year in 2019. Darby led the NFL last year with 16 passes defensed and while he looked like he would be the team’s No. 1, he’ll actually be the No. 2 guy.

That’s because on Saturday, the Broncos signed star cornerback Kyle Fuller to a one-year deal. Fuller’s been with the Chicago Bears since 2014, and he enjoyed a career-year in 2018 under Fangio, leading the NFL in interceptions (7) and passes defended (21) that season.

Some are calling it “No Fly Zone II” but maybe we should wait to give them a nickname until they play some games together in Denver.

Still, Fuller and Darby outside, star slot man Bryce Callahan inside (who’s played with Fuller in Chicago) and Simmons on the back end makes for the best secondary Denver’s had since the original No Fly Zone.

The Broncos will be able to rush the quarterback without sending extra men, and at the same time, play man on the back end which will result in lots of sacks, fumbles and punts for opponents in 2021.

And the fact that Paton focused in on man cornerbacks — the scheme Fangio’s defense utilizes — as well as having almost every move this week be focused on that side of the ball is a sign that Paton has bought into Fangio.

It doesn’t guarantee anything. If the Broncos miss the playoffs this year, Fangio’s third as head coach, he could still be fired. But Paton has supplied the coach with everything he needs to have a top-tier defense in 2021.

Offensively, Paton sadly moved away from Phillip Lindsay and brought in running back Mike Boone. That side of the ball is set besides at the most important position, quarterback.

In only one week, Paton has positioned Denver to be competitive immediately, and if he can somehow pull off a long-shot trade for Deshaun Watson, it will be one of the greatest offseasons in Broncos history.