Overview
Position: Quarterback
Height: 6’7”
Weight: 244 pounds
School: Memphis Tigers
Paxton Lynch 2016 NFL Draft Profile
The 2016 NFL draft is not particularly deep when it comes to quarterbacks. That is good news for Paxton Lynch. It’s not that Lynch is not good. He is. But in a normal year, he might be a fourth or fifth quarterback taken based on his real lack of experience at the position and his need for more time to develop. He has only been throwing a football in games for three years. Yes, you read that correctly.
Lynch was two star recruit coming out of Deltona, Florida and spent his high school career running the Wing-T offense, which meant he turned and pitched to running backs for his two years as a starter. Once he went to Memphis, he spent his first year redshirting and learning proper throwing techniques. He also grew to 6-7, which made him a physical prospect. His redshirt freshman year was rough one. With a long learning curve he threw for nine touchdowns and 10 interceptions. The progress was obvious by his sophomore year as he threw for 3,000 yards and a 63% completion rate while leading Memphis to a 10 win season.
His junior season was even better as the Tigers won their first eight games of the season before struggling at the end. Still, Lynch threw for 3,776 yards and 28 touchdowns. The highlight was Memphis’ upset of Ole Miss where Lynch went 39 of 53 passing for 386 yards and three touchdowns. Lynch still has football maturing to do, but there is a future with the right team.
Strengths
- Physical frame
- Functional scrambler; can throw on the run effectively instead of tucking the ball in
- Fleet of foot
- Strong arm
- Maneuvers quickly
Weaknesses
- Technique needs more refining
- Needs to improve accuracy on the long throws
- Needs to anticipate wide receiver routes better
- Consistency
NFL Comparison: Ryan Tannehill, Miami Dolphins
Teams with Need at Position: Cleveland Browns, Dallas Cowboys, San Francisco 49ers, Los Angeles Rams, New York Jets, Houston Texans
Projection: Mid 1st round
Bottom Line
The NFL comparison is a tough one because of Lynch’s size. Not since Dan McGwire has there been height/size match, but Lynch has a much bigger upside that McGwire ever had. He just hasn’t had the six or seven years of quarterback camps and private coaches and high quality refinement of most quarterbacks who come in with the possibility of being a first round pick. It’s a long way from playing in the American Athletic Conference to the NFL. Lynch needs a team where he can be a reliable back and work on his technique. That takes Cleveland out of the mix. They are desperate for help now. Dallas fits the mold but with the #4 pick there are a couple of quarterback options better than Lynch. San Francisco is a wildcard because of Chip Kelly’s offense and Colin Kaepernick’s desire to be traded. The best spot would be with the Los Angeles Rams, (still feels funny to type that). There is uncertainty at the position with Nick Foles and Case Keenum, but one of them is going to start. That gives Lynch the necessary time to progress.
