New York Jets quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick (14) drops back to pass against the Tennessee Titans during the first quarter at MetLife Stadium.
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Elway’s patience paid off as he emerged from draft weekend with his presumed long-term answer in Paxton Lynch, a restocked roster and the financial flexibility to re-sign stars Von Miller, Emmanuel Sanders and Brandon Marshall in the months ahead. Everyone has an agenda regarding Paxton Lynch because he’s the most fungible player. Pro Football Focus gave Lynch a third-round grade. While the 49ers might pick up a signal caller later in the draft, it is now highly unlikely they will be drafting a quarterback to seriously compete for the starting job this season. “The Denver Broncos organization is obviously one of the best in the league”, Lynch told ESPN in an interview. I am making an educated guess that some team out there really likes a player out of the Christian Hackenberg/Connor Cook/Cardale Jones tier.
Owner Jerry Jones confirmed that the team wanted Lynch after the first round was completed. They’re all coming up together.
“Once I got here and walked into the building, it felt like home”, Lynch said.
Lynch has drawn comparisons to Cam Newton and Ben Roethlisberger, but those seem based on size rather than skill. That deal went “dormant”, as Elway described last week, when the Broncos and Kaepernick’s representatives couldn’t agree on a restructured contract.
Lynch, who checks in at 6-foot-7, is roughly the same build as ex-quarterback Brock Osweiler. He became a starter in 2013 as a redshirt freshman and started for the next three years.
During his time at Memphis University Lynch threw for 8,863 yards and 59 touchdowns while rushing for 687 yards and 17 touchdowns in a spread offense, nearly entirely out of the shotgun formation.
If not Tunsil, Notre Dame’s Ronnie Stanley or Michigan State’s Jack Conklin are other intriguing options. Not to make a direct comparison to the NFL’s all-time leading rusher, but you heard the same thing about Emmitt Smith, and he had deceptive speed in the open field. “He’s a big guy”. I see something similar happening. “Every quarterback’s a project when they first get in”, he said. Lynch for one is ready for the work to begin.
Kelly was asked if he still had doubts about Kaepernick staying with the 49ers.
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“There will be a learning curve for him, as there is with a lot of them”.
