The competition for the Denver Broncos' starting quarterback job between Trevor Siemian and Paxton Lynch is expected to get more interesting in training camp. According to Mike Klis of KUSA-TV, Lynch, the 2016 first-round pick, made a push for the starting job in the final two weeks of organized team activities and minicap. "His switch was flipped. He started to get it," Klis reported for 9news.com, adding that Lynch did not think about his protection and coverages, but “effectively delivered the ball on time."
Lynch said that his fast development was due to the number of repetitions he got in practice and the chance to go against the defense more often, rather than see it only on paper.
Lynch added that practice made both he and Siemian better players, allowing them to familiarize themselves with the system that new head coach Vance Joseph is trying to introduce.
If Lynch continues his development, Joseph will have a hard time choosing who will start behind center for the Broncos in the regular season but Lynch is leaving it up to the coaching staff to decide. "They get paid that kind of money to make those decisions,” said Lynch. Last season, Siemian started 14 games, passing for 3,401 yards and 18 touchdowns with 10 interceptions. Lynch, for his part, played three games, including two starts, tallying 497 yards with two touchdowns and an interception.
Mr. Irrelevant QB Chad Kelly to throw in July
The Broncos will also get a third quarterback when Chad Kelly starts throwing in July. Kelly earned the distinction of being Mr. Irrelevant when the Broncos used the 253rd pick to take him in the 2017 NFL Draft. Kelly underwent wrist surgery in the offseason but is expected to be fully recovered in July.
The Broncos have already signed Kelly, a former quarterback standout at Ole Miss, to a contract with a $65,000 signing bonus.
Kelly a good QB prospect for the Broncos
Before he tore his ACL in his final season at #Ole Miss, Kelly was seen as a top quarterback and potential top pick. He also had several off-field troubles, including a guilty plea in connection with his 2014 arrest in Buffalo.
Clemson also dismissed Kelly for poor conduct in 2014.
Despite his troubles, Broncos general manager John Elway still took Kelly after his uncle, former Buffalo Bills great Jim Kelly, vouched for the quarterback, describing him as "a good kid." Kelly was a dual-threat quarterback in his stint at Ole Miss, throwing 50 touchdowns and adding 15 rushing scores. In 2016, Kelly led the SEC in total yards, with 343.3 yards per game before he suffered a season-ending ACL injury. He had a 14-8 record as a starter.
