Chiefs: Shopping for QB of the future
By Laddie Morse
So, let’s take a look at the quarterbacks who will be available in the 2016 NFL Draft. Mike Mayock, analyst for NFL.com, has ranked the top five quarterbacks:
- Carson Wentz, North Dakota State
- Jared Goff, California
- Paxton Lynch, Memphis
- Connor Cook, Michigan State
- Dak Prescott, Mississippi State
As it turns out, both Paxton Lynch and Dak Prescott are my favorites, especially as possible quarterbacks-of-the-future “fits” for the Chiefs. So, let’s focus on them.
Some will say the Chiefs have no chance of ever drafting Lynch at pick #28 but in the 70 plus mock drafts I’ve performed over the past few months, nearly 20% of those mocks offered at least one of the top four QBs available at pick #28… and almost always Dak Prescott.
Paxton Lynch is 6-foot-7 and 245 lbs. and played for Memphis. While Lance Zierlein of CBS Sports says Lynch is more of a Colin Kaepernick type quarterback who likes to extend plays with his legs, the stats don’t support that. Lynch threw for 8,865 yards in three years at Memphis, he only ran for 687 yards in those three years which is just over half of what Alex Smith produced in his three years at Utah. Kaepernick ran for 4,113 yards in college.
That means Paxton Lynch can maneuver in the pocket and extend plays with his legs… when needed. His 11.5 inch hands have people talking at the combine because they have been termed “monstrous.”
Although Lynch has been criticized for not being able to throw on the run very well, I haven’t seen that in his tape. He can get the ball downfield with the best of them and can make most all the throws including the gentle loft on a swing pass and the corner fade. One aspect of his game that I like, which I don’t see Alex Smith do enough of, is when Lynch goes through all hi progressions and makes sure he’s checked out all of his possible receiving options.
"“… whenever I see stuff like that [media reports], like me going in the second round or something like that, I just kind of use it as motivation. I just keep it in the back of mind, and every day I go to work I just think about how I’ve always been doubted in a way. I just use it as a chip on my shoulder and go push myself. “"
A play of Paxton Lynch’s that I’m jazzed about comes at the 1:05 mark of this video and is so Montana-esk you won’t believe it. Enjoy.
Next: Is There a Dark Horse QBOTF?