Denver Broncos 5 worst first-round picks of the last 20 years
Denver Broncos 5 worst first-round picks in the last 20 years
1. Paxton Lynch, QB (2016, 26th overall)
The Denver Broncos traded up to get most of the guys on this list. Are you sensing a theme here?
Paxton Lynch is easily the worst first-round pick the Denver Broncos have had in the last two decades, all things considered, and it’s extremely unfortunate.
Coming out of Memphis, Lynch showed a rifle of an arm, really good athleticism, and some big-time playmaking ability.
He was a blast to watch on his college tape and given his size and athleticism, the Denver Broncos undoubtedly hoped that he would be what Justin Herbert currently is for the Los Angeles Chargers.
John Elway needed to do something in the post-Peyton Manning era, and given the fact that they were picking last in the first round after winning Super Bowl 50, Lynch was one of only a couple of options that would have been acceptable at the time.
Most people didn’t view Dak Prescott as a first-round pick at the time, and apparently the entire NFL didn’t, either.
Despite how bullish John Elway had been up to this point in time about letting his draft picks play through their full contracts if at all possible, Lynch was the first one he let go of before his contract was up.
Injuries played a part in his ultimate demise in Denver, but Lynch was also not known for having the best work habits and it showed on the field as he struggled with the basics of being an NFL quarterback.
He wasn’t even able to catch on anywhere else as a primary backup quarterback.
After bouncing around the NFL, Lynch resurfaced in Canada to try and get his pro career back on track.
His best moments as a pro were undoubtedly a Week 17 matchup with the Chiefs back in the 2017 season, when he went toe-to-toe with Patrick Mahomes in the future MVP’s first career start.
After that, Lynch played the best he probably ever did as an NFL player as a member of the Seattle Seahawks in a preseason game against the Broncos.
This was, unfortunately, a horrendous pick for the Broncos at a time when they desperately needed a hit at QB.