Who should be held responsible for the Paxton Lynch’s “bust” label as an NFL quarterback? The blame for the failure of Paxton Lynch in Denver can be attributed to multiple factors that have led to the quarterback’s “bust” status. When the Denver Broncos selected Lynch with the 26th pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, the team thought it had secured the successor to Peyton Manning.
Instead, the team is now looking for life after Lynch. With Lynch fighting for a spot on the 53-man roster, fans are left wondering what went wrong. After looking into Lynch’s brief career, there are a few people who take the blame for the franchise quarterback that never was.
Who is Responsible For “bust” Paxton Lynch in Denver?
Head Coach Vance Joseph
Starting with the scapegoat for all of the blame in Denver over the past two seasons. In his first season in Denver, Joseph piloted the team to a 5-11 record. The Broncos hadn’t finished with a record that bad since 2010. Joseph looked lost, confused, and ill-prepared in his first year as a head coach. Joseph also made the decision to hire (and then fire) offensive coordinator Mike McCoy. McCoy’s offense was reportedly “too difficult” for offensive players to comprehend.
For a young, raw quarterback prospect, changing offensive coordinators three times in the first three years is catastrophic for his development. Joseph needs to be held responsible for the hiring of McCoy, whose offensive system was more damaging than it was helpful. After relieving McCoy of his duties, Joseph then tapped quarterbacks coach Bill Musgrave as the new offensive coordinator. As Musgrave enters his second year as the team’s offensive coordinator, it might be too late for Lynch’s career as a Bronco. Joseph’s poor management of the team in general is largely to blame for the Broncos poor season in 2017.
General Manager John Elway
In recent times, the blame for the Broncos missing the playoffs in two consecutive has begun to shift towards the “big man” in Denver. Elway famously traded up in the 2016 NFL Draft to select Lynch. Lynch was a widely sought after prospect because of his size, mobility and arm strength. Coming from a spread offense, Lynch was also seen as a multi-year project due to his raw understanding of the game. As the one who pulled the trigger to draft Lynch, some responsibility does ultimately falls on Elway.
It should be noted however, that Lynch was coveted by multiple teams across the NFL. The Kansas City Chiefs, Arizona Cardinals and Dallas Cowboys were all interested in Lynch as a prospect. If Elway didn’t select Lynch, another team would have done so in the first round. It will never be known if Lynch would have seen success on another team. But based on Lynch’s progression as a quarterback, that is highly unlikely. Trading up for Lynch can be chalked up to the high level of interest from the other aforementioned teams.
Despite his success as an NFL general manager, Elway has made his fair amount of mistakes. Failing to build a solid offensive line, letting go of key defensive players and the hiring of Vance Joseph are just a handful. Even the best NFL general managers have missed on prospects and Elway is no exception.
The quarterback: Paxton Lynch
Ultimately, the bulk of the blame for Paxton Lynch’s ineffective play- is Paxton himself. It all began with a report published in 2017 questioning Lynch’s work ethic. The Broncos would later “refute” the claim. However, the doubt was already planted in the hearts of Broncos fans. The “future of the franchise” was unable to beat out a former seventh-round pick (Trevor Siemian) and fans were frantic for a reason. “Poor work ethic” was beginning to take the mold as the primary reason.
Was the report true? Based on on-field results, it’s difficult to say it isn’t. Offensive system(s) aside, Lynch’s development as a quarterback has seen zero progression since his rookie season. Lynch often looks skittish in the pocket, while also failing to read through his progression. If his first option isn’t available, he immediately tucks the ball in and begins to run. This almost always leads to a sack or a loss of yardage.
Lynch also fails to read defenses post-snap, and also fails to see an oncoming blitz. Lynch’s performance in the 2018 preseason has been so poor, he was demoted to the third-string quarterback position (again, beaten out by a seventh-round draft choice). Even quarterbacks who struggle with picking up an offensive system don’t make these same mistakes. At this point, Lynch has shown no growth in his mechanics as an NFL quarterback.
Verdict
Lynch has also received his own criticisms off of the field, on a character-related level. During a 2017 matchup against the Oakland Raiders, Lynch was seen crying on the sidelines, instead of helping the next quarterback prepare for the game. Lynch is often seen on the sidelines away from coaches and quarterbacks. Instead, he opts to sit alone or with a member of the special teams.
In more recent times, Lynch’s response to being demoted to third string was (according to head coach Vance Joseph) “I want to know why.” Lynch has simply lacked the leadership and character traits needed in a franchise quarterback. Coupled with his inability to improve his mechanics, the Broncos are on the verge of one of the biggest draft busts in team history.
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