Many thought the Broncos would have to move past the New York Jets in order to grab Paxton Lynch, but they obviously knew that New York would not pick him in the first round. They ended up trading up to the 26th spot to take their future quarterback, relinquishing the 31st and the 94th picks.
After the draft concluded, there were reports that Dallas was also trying to trade up for the opportunity to select Lynch, but the possession of a first round pick enticed Seattle to accept the Broncos offer. Good job on Elway’s part to ensure that another team was not able to complete a trade before them to pick Lynch.
John Elway possessed 10 picks going into the draft so I was not a surprise that he used one of his mid-round picks as ammunition to put himself into a position to draft a player that he really wanted.
Lynch is a polarizing pick among Bronco fans because many thought they would be able to get a project quarterback in the later rounds. Dak Prescott and Christian Hackenberg would both be available in the second and maybe even third rounds. However, I am a huge fan of this pick because Lynch has the highest ceiling of any of the other quarterbacks in the draft. Some have raised concerns of his ability to work from under center and his ability to read NFL defenses (which every rookie QB is unequipped for).
The best case scenario for both Lynch and Denver is for him to take zero snaps during the 2016 season. Hopefully Sanchez is able to hold down the fort without getting injured or preforming poorly enough to get benched.
Jon Gruden compared Paxton Lynch to Cam Newton during the ESPN broadcast of the draft, which is good but Gruden is known for overemphasizing player skill. I don't agree with Gruden’s assessment because Cam is much more athletic and more polished coming out of college.
Lynch has a strong arm and athleticism, but he needs to work on his mechanics, especially since he will be transition to an offense that operates mainly under center. With that said, it is reassuring that Lynch compares closely with Cam according to a former head coach.
The Broncos did a good job of getting the player that they wanted in the first round and without panicking a trading up before they needed to. Lynch may not be prepared to play this season, but I believe he is the quarterback of the future. Reportedly, Paxton Lynch was the number one quarterback on the Broncos board, ahead of the first two overall picks Jared Goff and Carson Wentz. Although I might not agree with that, it is hard for me to criticize John Elway when it comes to ranking quarterbacks.
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