Paxton Lynch is top passer under pressure in 2016 class

Denver Broncos: Rookie quarterback Paxton Lynch was the best passer in college football under pressure last season. Can that translate to 2016?

According to Pro Football Focus, Denver Broncos rookie QB Paxton Lynch was the best passer under pressure last season in all of college football…

This is evident on tape in his ability to not only avoid pressure but to make great throws on the move and after escaping the pocket.

And of course, we all know Lynch has great accuracy when he’s not being pressured as well, including deep downfield where some have questioned his ability…

There were plenty of people who felt like Lynch was the best or at worst the second best QB in this class. I don’t say that to put unnecessary expectation on him, but there’s no doubt in my mind that being picked in the late first round, he’s underrated.

Broncos fans should be excited about the fact that he’s so good under pressure, because Broncos QBs were pressured a good amount last season. It didn’t always work out well. Brock Osweiler and Peyton Manning both took more sacks than any of us would have liked, and while we know Lynch will take his share, it’s evident from the tape that this is a guy who can create when the pocket collapses, get to an open space, and make throws accurately down the field.

For a young quarterback coming from a school at Memphis that isn’t exactly world renown for their football team, he does a great job of scanning the field, keeping his eyes downfield and his options open. He can take hits and make strong, accurate throws consistently.

I would be interested to know what his efficiency rating under pressure was both with his passing as well as his running. As many times as Lynch made great throws under pressure, he made equally great plays improvising on the run and picking up first downs with his legs.

This is an exciting player, and someone who can be the QB of the future for this team sooner rather than later because of his ability under pressure.