The battle to decide who will be the Broncos starting quarterback between Paxton Lynch and Trevor Siemian figures to last well into the preseason. Whoever ends up being the starter for this upcoming year, caution needs to be in place for either player.
It’s a dog-eat-dog world in the league today and the field is littered with the names of quarterbacks who were tabbed as can’t-miss prospects. Denver has experienced highs and lows of their own when it comes to their drafted quarterbacks in first-round choices Jay Cutler and Tim Tebow, both who were unable to fill the enormous expectations of quarterbacking the Denver Broncos.
For as much as organizations will preach patience when it comes to a young quarterback in the league, there are so many factors in whether or not anybody even becomes a viable starting-caliber player, much less an Aaron Rodgers or a Drew Brees. The right coaching staff, surrounding cast and a little bit of luck are all needed and, if just one of those factors is missing, it can mean a bumpy ride for both fans and franchise.
If Siemian is the starter (not a guarantee at the moment of writing this), the Broncos would be tickled if the Northwestern man can mix in going down the field more often, while still being safe with the ball and effective in the short-to-medium range passing game. Siemian has followed in the steps of Brian Griese and Jake Plummer in having both vocal supporters and opposition to his presence as the starter. In all fairness, his performance in 2016 lies somewhere in between diamond in the rough and being the last man standing over a departed Mark Sanchez and raw Lynch. Did he look the part of top-10 NFL quarterback in the second half of games versus the Cincinnati Bengals and Kansas City Chiefs? Absolutely. On the flip side, did he look like a flummoxed, seventh-round pick in losses to the San Diego Chargers and the New England Patriots? Again, the answer is yes.
With as much talk that Siemian has the potential to follow in the steps of another late-round pick, Tom Brady (both have comparable numbers in their first year as the full-time starter), it’s not fair to Siemian to hold him to that standard. It’s crucial to remember that only a small number of picks, first-round, seventh-round or in between, end up as successful starters in the league. For as good as Brady has been, he is the outlier in the equation, not the norm.
For all intents and purposes, Lynch is the wild card. John Elway and his brain-trust moved up in the draft last season to take Lynch, and it wasn’t with the intent of having him sit for two seasons in order to be prepared enough to take the field. His first-round selection, though, is a weight that he will be forced to carry when it comes to the demands that are placed on him, fair or not. Does he have more natural ability than Siemian? Yes. Has it shown in the games he has played in up until this point? Not always.
For as much as it can sound like a backhanded compliment, if Lynch can be a game-manager and not do anything to cost the Broncos a game, he will set himself up well in growing into the most important position on the field, while also smoothing out the rougher parts of his game. Lynch has the ability to throw for 3,500-plus yards with 30 or more touchdowns and fewer than 10 interceptions for this season if he beats out Siemian for the job. It’s easy to assume that Elway and Company had in mind that kind of production when they selected him. Again, Denver fans will need to hedge themselves against those numbers and be realistic in what to expect out of a player who could be entering his first full season at the helm.
Both of the inexperienced Denver signal-callers will have the benefit of playing in a retooled offensive scheme and with a near championship-level defense. While the ceiling is high for both players, for Broncos Country, as well as the team itself, it’s time to temper what each player has the potential to do and instead hope for continued positive growth and development from the both of them. Much like the tale of the tortoise and the hare, slow and steady will win the race while solidifying the quarterback position for Denver.
