The Denver Broncos’ fourth preseason game is always one of the most fun to watch, for a number of reasons.
Not the least of which is watching the team’s roster battles unfold, and the 90 players on the roster vying for one of the coveted 53 spots.
Which of those 90 players are under the most pressure on Thursday night against the Cardinals? There are certainly plenty of guys who will be in focus, but there are some in particular that need to have big games to at least make the front office’s decision to keep them or not a very difficult one.
Here are a few of those players.
Paxton Lynch, QB
Nobody’s roster spot is hanging in the balance quite like Paxton Lynch’s.
Unless Lynch has a big game against Arizona, it seems likely he will not make the 2018 Denver Broncos unless the team simply cannot fathom the thought of cutting a first round pick in his third NFL season.
Lynch has certainly not done anything to make the Broncos think he’s one of the top 53 players on the roster at the moment, but that doesn’t necessarily mean he won’t get a roster spot.
Draft status does play a role here, as does Lynch’s contract. The Broncos may feel holding onto him could elevate his trade value if he can perhaps play well enough in this game to raise any eyebrows.
But that’s the catch 22 here. If Lynch plays really well in the final preseason game, and Chad Kelly is just okay, what do the Broncos do?
If both Lynch and Kelly play poorly (not likely), will the Broncos cut bait with one and get a veteran?
If Lynch plays well, would the Broncos even be willing to trade him at that point, or would they still believe something could develop in him down the road?
This whole situation leaves Denver in a weird position. At this point in time, it seems obvious the team should move on from Lynch, but a strong performance in the preseason finale could force everyone back to the drawing board.