The one thing that I love about the NFL Draft is the moment when your team trades up with another team and selects a particular player they covet. It is even more exciting when your team does that to select a quarterback. This happened in 2010 with the Broncos when they traded back into the first round to grab Tim Tebow, and it happened once again in this year's draft when Denver traded up from #31 overall to #26 overall with Seattle in order to select quarterback Paxton Lynch from Memphis. The Broncos gave up their 3rd round pick (#94 overall) to jump up to #26 and grab the guy they wanted. Here is how I break down this bold move by John Elway and the Broncos organization....
1) I was happy that Denver decided to select a QB in the first round. I felt they really needed to address the position after Peyton Manning decided to retire, Brock Osweiler bolted in free agency, and Mark Sanchez was acquired via trade in March. The Broncos didn't sit back and select a guy in the 3rd or 4th round. They went up and got a player who was considered the third best QB in this draft, and Lynch is someone that people feel could eventually be a franchise QB. Give Elway credit for having the balls to trade up and get Lynch and put the future of the franchise in the hands of a young and promising 1st round draft pick at the QB position.
2) Of all the options the Broncos had in terms of QBs, drafting a QB high was the best one in my opinion. Trading for Colin Kaepernick was not going to be a great move for the long-term. Signing a guy like Brian Hoyer was the not the answer. Trading for Sam Bradford was not going to work because the Eagles wanted a fortune for him. This was the best option because it gives the Broncos a future guy to lead the franchise, and it also resets the QB position from a money standpoint. If Lynch works out, then the Broncos have him for four years and a fifth-year option, and they only have to spend about $9 million. This will create flexibility for the team to continue to build the rest of the roster and continue to build a solid overall team.
3) I think Lynch's physical ability is what is the most intriguing about him. I know he is raw, and I know that he played in a spread concept in college at Memphis, but don't discount the idea that Lynch could be the starter come Week 1. I wouldn't be surprised at all if Gary Kubiak gets this kid ready to go at the start of the regular season. He definitely fits what the Broncos want out of a QB, and he will get coached up and protected by Kubiak and OC Rick Dennison, so Lynch could very well be the starter right away.
4) There is a lot to like about Lynch, but my two biggest concerns would be the fact that Lynch had his draft party at a bowling alley, and he has this "V for Vendetta" mustache and goatee-thing going. Other than that, I like his personality and demeanor. This was a really good move by the Broncos, and let's hope that Lynch is a the Broncos QB for a long, long time.
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