It’s finally over.

The disappointment that was the 2017 Denver Broncos’ season ended the best way it possibly could have on Sunday evening — for the future, at least. The Broncos lost 27-24, locking them into the sixth pick in the 2018 NFL Draft.

If there was another positive to the Broncos’ season finale, it was that the meaningless game gave them a chance to let some of the younger players get some playing time under their belts. Second-year quarterback Paxton Lynch was one of those players; starting his fourth career game with the Broncos’ future very much in mind.

Of the three other games that Lynch has started, Sunday’s loss against the Chiefs was his arguably his best, but it certainly wasn’t spectacular. Against Kansas City’s backups, Lynch finished the day completing 21 of his 31 passes for a career-high 254 yards while adding two touchdowns and throwing two interceptions. In addition to his numbers through the air, he picked up 13 yards on three carries.

The trio of quarterbacks the Broncos have put on the field in 2017 haven’t had much time to do anything in 2017. Sunday was no different for Lynch, who dealt with his fair share of pressure. He was sacked twice, with one of those sacks resulting in a fumble that the Chiefs returned for a touchdown.

Earlier this week, Lynch’s agent Leigh Steinberg told Gil Whiteley and Mark Jackson of Mile High Sports AM 1340 | FM 104.7 that Lynch hasn’t had time to get into any sort of rhythm during his two years in the NFL.  If the last month of the season had gone the way that the Broncos had planned, Lynch would’ve had a four-game stretch to put something together. His only other start of the season came in Week 12 against the Oakland Raiders and was cut short by a high-ankle sprain. That injury kept Lynch on the sideline until Sunday. He finished that game nine-for-14 for 41 yards and an interception while rushing for 17 yards on just two carries.

If the Broncos have learned anything in 2017, it’s that there quarterback for the 2018 season likely isn’t on the roster. Now John Elway must decide whether or not Lynch has shown him enough to stick with him for a little longer or try their luck in the draft once more.

Only time will tell.