Denver Broncos Expect Paxton Lynch to Compete for Starting Job Right Away

The Denver Broncos made a splashy move in the first round of the 2016 NFL draft. They moved up in the first round in a trade with the Seattle Seahawks so they could select Memphis quarterback Paxton Lynch.

This was the first time under general manager John Elway the team had selected an offensive player with their first pick in the draft. Defenses win championships, and the Broncos have constructed the league’s best defense largely through the draft. However, with a glaring need at quarterback the Broncos decided to go in a different direction with their first pick this year.

According to Elway, the Broncos began the day on Thursday targeting Lynch.

“Yes, we did. We started working early. We worked the phones from noon on today to try to find where we could slide in. We talked to everybody starting at [No.] 17 all the way up and finally were able to do a deal with the Seahawks.”

With a new quarterback of the future in the fold, how soon before Lynch gets a chance at the starting job? Let’s take a look.

Is Lynch a Project?

How much time does Lynch need to get up to speed in the NFL? That’s something the team will have to find an answer to in the months leading up to the start of the 2016 season. Coming from a spread system in college, many have pegged the young quarterback as a project.

Lynch doesn’t feel that’s an accurate description:

“I wouldn’t say I am a project. Obviously every quarterback coming out of college, we have stuff that they need to work on. There are some good quarterbacks on the roster right now, and I know there will be good competition between all of us.”

The Broncos have the luxury of giving Lynch the time to develop as a starter. Even with time on Lynch’s side, head coach Gary Kubiak has big expectations for the rookie.

“There are no givens on our team. Everybody competes, and I’m expecting him to come in here and make up some ground really quick. But I think it’s a great group to go to work with. I know [quarterbacks coach/passing game coordinator Greg Knapp] and [offensive coordinator Rick Dennison] are very excited about him, so we’ve got to make up as much ground as we can,” he said

The Kubiak System

Last year in Kubiak’s first season as the team’s head coach we didn’t see his offense true to form. Instead, we saw the Broncos implement a hybrid system of what Peyton Manning liked to do paired with some Kubiak tendencies.

With Lynch under center, the Broncos should be able to go back to some staples of the Kubiak offense. Bootlegs, rollouts …

continue reading in source www.bleacherreport.com