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http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000650304/article/paxton-lynchs-draft-range-rams-broncos-cowboys-among-fits
Paxton Lynch’s draft range: Rams, Broncos, Cowboys among fitsBy Bucky Brooks
NFL Media analyst
Published: April 4, 2016 at 04:33 p.m.
Updated: April 4, 2016 at 05:25 p.m.The pre-draft process is an intel-gathering mission on prospective employees. And although certain prospects tend to attract groupthink in the scouting community, others generate the varied opinions that come from 32 different franchises with 32 unique approaches to talent evaluation. Former NFL player and scout Bucky Brooks is taking a closer at some of the most notable — and polarizing — prospects in the 2016 NFL Draft, to determine draft range and team fits.
Click here for all of the prospects in this Ceiling/Floor series.
* * * * *
Today’s subject: Memphis quarterback Paxton LynchCEILING: Top half of the first round — San Francisco 49ers (No. 7 overall), Philadelphia Eagles (No. 8), Chicago Bears (No. 11), Los Angeles Rams (No. 15).
FLOOR: Low first round/early second round — Arizona Cardinals (No. 29), Denver Broncos (No. 31), Dallas Cowboys (No. 34), San Diego Chargers (No. 35).
LYNCH’S PRO DAY: April 6.
What I likeLynch is an athletic dual-threat playmaker with exceptional size, movement skills and arm talent. It is hard to find a 6-foot-7, 244-pounder capable of executing the zone read and quarterback power while also possessing the ability to throw fastballs to the perimeter from the pocket or on the move. That’s why scouts have been salivating over Lynch’s potential as a franchise quarterback since he burst onto the national scene with a spectacular performance (39 of 53 for 384 yards with three touchdowns and a pick) in the Tigers’ 37-24 win over Ole Miss last October. Lynch has all of the physical tools to shine in any offense, but it is his combination of arm talent and athleticism that has piqued the interest of creative offensive minds. Play designers with extensive experience melding RPOs (run-pass options), sprint-out passes, bootlegs and traditional concepts could view Lynch as the ultimate prospect to develop as a franchise quarterback. Although he is far from a finished product as a dropback passer and lacks extensive reps taking the ball from under center, Lynch could quickly master those maneuvers and become a deadly playmaker from the pocket.
Studying the All-22 coaches tape, Lynch’s arm talent is intoxicating. It is hard to find a passer capable of delivering the ball with more zip and velocity — to every area of the field — as effortlessly as Lynch. He fires the ball to the boundary from the opposite hash on a rope. The combination of ball speed and placement makes his passes nearly impossible for defenders to catch despite terrific anticipation or timing. Thus, Lynch could develop into an exceptional tight-window passer at the next level when he understands his limitations as a gunslinger.
Why the range?Despite Lynch’s immense potential as a franchise quarterback, there are plenty of concerns surrounding the Memphis standout. He entered the NFL early, after his redshirt junior season, and will need some time to acclimate to the speed and tempo of the pro game. In addition, Lynch spent his college days in a spread offense that prominently featured RPOs, bubble screens and quick routes. Thus, he hasn’t been exposed to complex passing concepts (full-field reads or pure-progression passes) and his lack of experience with those tactics could make it tough for him to get onto the field — unless a coach is willing to use part of Memphis’ offensive system in the basic game plan.
The lack of elite competition is also a concern for scouts evaluating Lynch. The Tigers played in the American Athletic Conference, and last season, Lynch faltered in the team’s three biggest conference games (Navy, Houston and Temple) down the stretch. Most importantly, he struggled mightily against Auburn in a Birmingham Bowl performance (16 of 37 for 106 yards and an interception) that exposed his flaws as a playmaker on a big stage. Although Lynch’s supporters point to the circumstances affecting his play — Memphis head coach Justin Fuente accepted a job at Virginia Tech and didn’t coach the bowl game — the fact that Lynch didn’t perform well in a series of big games raises some concern over his ability to lead his team to the winner’s circle.
Where would he excel?It is important for any team considering Lynch as a franchise quarterback to entertain the possibility of blending some of the RPO concepts and lay-ups (bubble screens and quicks) into the game plan, to help him find his footing as a young playmaker. In addition, I believe a team with a strong running game and a diverse, complementary play-action passing attack would be a great fit for Lynch, based on his inexperience as a traditional dropback passer. Thus, teams like Denver and Los Angeles strike me as ideal environments for Lynch to grow into a franchise guy. The Broncos, in particular, have a structure in place (strong running game and dominant defense) to help Lynch slowly develop as a playmaker. He could lean on the C.J. Anderson-led ground attack, thus allowing him to throw high-percentage passes off run-action plays on various flood concepts and half-field reads. Also, Lynch could focus on learning how to manage the game with a nasty defense that’s capable of holding the score down.
The Rams offer Lynch a terrific opportunity to play alongside a pair of electric talents (Todd Gurley and Tavon Austin). Moreover, he would play for a coach (Jeff Fisher) who is comfortable featuring an athletic quarterback. Fisher enjoyed success with Steve McNair and Vince Young at the helm in Tennessee; he could take advantage of Lynch’s running skills and mobility as a complement to the Rams’ hard-hitting rushing attack. In addition, he would give the Rams a young, dynamic quarterback to build around for the foreseeable future.
The Cowboys and Chargers also would qualify as good landing spots for Lynch, based on the presence of a veteran quarterback and experienced quarterback teachers. Each team needs to identify a young signal caller to develop for a prominent role down the road; Lynch could be an intriguing prospect to groom.
Agamemnona strong arm and some mobility. but serious questions about ability to make quick decisions and read defenses.
i do like him better than cook.
He is the GRob/BQuick of QBs, lot of potential, lot of learning. imo
AgamemnonPFF scouting report: Paxton Lynch, QB, Memphis
Steve Palazzolo and the PFF draft analysts break down the play of Memphis’ Paxton Lynch ahead of the 2016 NFL draft.
PFF Analysis Team | 2 days ago
https://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2016/04/04/draft-pff-scouting-report-paxton-lynch-qb-memphis/Below is the PFF draft profile for Memphis’ Paxton Lynch, which incorporates PFF’s college grades and scouting intel from our team of analysts. To see all of PFF’s 2016 scouting reports, click here.
Position fit: Starting QB
Stats to Know: Graded at +30.5 overall in 2015, good for 12th in the nation after a +17.0 finish in 2014 that ranked 21st
What he does best:
— Quick setup and release in the pocket — rare for a QB of his size
— Can use the quick release on run/pass option plays. Gives offense some flexibility
— Threw only three passes beyond 40 yards in the air, but two of them were perfect, on-target strikes on deep posts. May be able to take advantage of the post route against one-on-one coverage at the next level
— Very good touch, had a number of impressive “bucket” throws
— Is athletic for his size, though unlikely he’s a major running threat in the NFL. Has enough to keep the ball on zone read, however
— Shows enough zip to fit passes into tight windows against zone coverage
— Made a few “wow” throws at intermediate and deep levels with perfect accuracy
— Worked back to his second read and completed passes with accuracy
— Keeps his eyes up when on the move, looking to throw from outside the pocket
— Has improved every year since high schoolBiggest concern:
— Accuracy seems to wane when he tries to throw with velocity at the short and intermediate level
— Accuracy at the intermediate level and outside the numbers was poor (49.0 percent accuracy percentage, among the lowest in the nation)
— Average accuracy between 21 and 40 yards
— A high percentage of his throws were either screens or designed rollouts
— Generally a good decision maker, but did have a few throws in which he failed to see an underneath zone defender
— Had a lot of wide open throws on coverage busts
— Missed on quite a few back shoulder throws. May have issues beating tight man coverage on the outside
— Has some ugly throws very late in the progression, either poor decisions throwing into coverage or inaccuracy
— Inconsistent when throwing on the run
— Hits lulls where his accuracy is all over the placeBottom line:
There’s a lot to like about Lynch’s game, especially given his continued development since high school. He throws accurately to the intermediate level, but coming out of a quirky system that featured a high number of screens and rollouts, there’s some projection to Lynch’s game as a 30-plus dropback passer at the next level. He’s solid across the board in many areas, and he has a skillset to build around at the next level, though he’s a step below some of the other QBs in the class.
AgamemnonESPN NFL Insiders Today (4/6/2016) – Paxton Lynch’s Pro Day, Robert Griffin’s first appearance
Paxton Lynch’s Pro Day: 4/6/16Suzy Kolber, Todd McShay, Mel Kiper, Louis Riddick and Adam Schefter take you inside Paxton Lynch’s pro day. Robert Griffin’s first appearance with the Browns and mock draft 4.0.
They waste 15 minutes talking about RG3.
Agamemnonhttp://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/nfl-draft-scout/25544417/nfl-draft-lynch-powers-through-strong-winds-impressing-at-pro-day
NFL Draft: Lynch powers through strong winds, impresses at pro day
By Dane Brugler | NFLDraftScout.com Senior Analyst
April 6, 2016 1:47 pm ETDespite howling crosswinds in the 30-40 miles per hour range, Memphis quarterback Paxton Lynch was on point and impressed during his pro day on Wednesday that included 75-plus throws.
Originally scheduled for 1 p.m. on the Tigers’ practice field, the scripted throwing session was moved up half an hour due to the violent winds. However, the strong gusts were no match for Lynch’s rocket arm strength as he showed off his velocity to all levels of the field from flat-outs to deep posts.
The Memphis wide receivers didn’t do him many favors with several drops, but for the most part Lynch’s passes were accurate and gave his targets a chance to make plays. When one of his throws was off-target, it was due to slight issues with his footwork.
Lynch has light feet and showed that on boots and rollouts, but his stride mechanics were not as crisp, which led to some placement issues. And that matches the tape. Lynch has all the physical traits from a size/arm strength/mobility perspective, but the technique is still a work in progress. And it starts from the ground up, refining his footwork and then tweaking his hips and shoulders to properly deliver strikes.
Lynch didn’t seem to let the windy conditions bother him during his pro day. (USATSI)
“I feel very confident from where I was to where I am now (since Combine),” said Lynch after his workout about his footwork. “I just wanted to show these teams what I could do in the short amount of time.”
There were 26 teams on-hand for the workout, including San Diego Chargers offensive coordinator Ken Wisenhunt, Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator Greg Roman and several quarterback coaches from around the league. According to several reports, the Bills, who currently own the No. 19 selection in the first round, dined with Lynch on Tuesday night.
Lynch measured at 6-foot-6 5/8-inches and 244 pounds with 34 1/4-inch hands. He focused on throwing at the pro day, standing on most of his numbers from the combine, including a 4.86 40-yard dash. Lynch also had impressive numbers in the vertical (36-inches), broad jump (9-feet-10), short shuttle (4.26) and three-cone drill (7.14).
It wasn’t an ideal setting due to the weather, but Lynch didn’t allow the elements to disrupt his workout and secured his spot as one of the top-three quarterbacks in this draft class.
Where will he land on draft day? That’s the mystery, but it will be tough for a quarterback-needy team in the mid-first round, like the Los Angeles Rams, to pass on his talent.
AgamemnonWHY PAXTON LYNCH IS THE PERFECT INGREDIENT FOR THE RAMS REBUILDING OFFENSE
Eric Galko
Eric Galko is the owner and director of scouting at Optimum Scouting and OptimumScouting.com, as well as a Sporting News contributor. Follow him on Twitter: @OptimumScouting
Big media and a number of NFL teams have fallen in love with the likes of Jared Goff and Carson Wentz. There is reason to believe both of them are quality quarterbacks, but the best quarterback in the class is Paxton Lynch. For whatever reason, he is not getting the same attention as the other two “top” quarterbacks in the class.
The Los Angeles Rams just settled in their new city and are in dire need of a full rebuild. Head coach Jeff Fisher was given an extension and a shining opportunity to turn the team around. The problem, for now, is that they lack a quarterback. The Nick Foles signing from a year ago turned out to be a disaster. Lynch, albeit the top passer in the class, may take a bit of a tumble through the first round because of the infatuation with other quarterbacks. For the Rams, this would be a godsend.
There is a bit of uncertainty as to who is running the offense in LA. Rob Boras was promoted to having a bigger role in the offense, but there is no clear cut “guy” running the offense. With that being said, Lynch’s projection as a Ram has to be more about how this staff could use Lynch based on what he did at Memphis, not necessarily based on what the Rams did last season.
Many are concerned with how well he will handle the transition from Memphis’s spread attack to a more nuanced pro game, but there is little reason to fret. After all, Marcus Mariota had a very good rookie season with the Tennessee Titans. Robert Griffin III had an outstanding rookie season a few years prior, as well. There are plenty of success stories for spread quarterbacks and there is a blueprint on how to make an offense work for them.
Of course, the Rams can not entirely replicate what Lynch did at Memphis, but there are a handful of concepts they can sprinkle in or adjust to make Lynch comfortable. At Memphis, Lynch threw a lot of quick screens, slants and go-routes. The Oakland Raiders ran a lot of these concepts during Derek Carr’s rookie year to help him adjust from a similar offense to Memphis’, and Carr has shown that he is progressing into a good pro quarterback. The offense may largely consist of these concepts for Lynch, too, but there is one major difference between he and Carr that will allow the Rams to open up the playbook earlier.
Carr was not necessarily scared of pressure, per say, but he was used to playing being a horrendous line at Fresno State. Memphis did not have an outstanding line, but they gave Lynch more freedom than Carr had and Lynch consistently showed that he was not phased by pressure. With Lynch’s poise to add on top of his acute mental ability (he only threw 4 interceptions his final year), the Rams would have more freedom to open up the playbook and let him “figure it out” because he has all the ability to do.
Lynch falls more into the archetype that likes to feel when a play is open and make the adjustment on the fly to complete the pass, but has no qualms working through the construct of the system. He can hit timing routes well over any area of the field just as well as he can break the pocket and make a play.
The key for Lynch is opening up the field. There are a lot of ways to do this. Lynch is an athlete and that helps open up two things: run concepts with the quarterback involved and rollouts.
The Rams have to use Lynch’s athleticism to their advantage and these are two prime examples of how to do so. The first of two plays is a read-option look. There is not much to decipher there on than that Lynch has the intelligence to know when to keep versus pull the ball and run himself, as well as his ability as a runner.
The second of the two plays, however, showcases a lot of Lynch’s talents. For one, he is very comfortable rolling either way and it is even more impressive that he rolled left on this play. The play breaks down a little bit, though. Lynch was looking for a front side throw, as he should have been, but saw that those options were covered. Without any hesitation or panic, Lynch resets his body to throw back the other way and rifles in a throw that his receiver ended up converting into a first down. The play is not only a testament to his ability to operate well on the move, but also a testament to his ability to adjust quickly and make a play.
Lynch needs to be allowed to attack down the field, too. He has a good arm that can find that sweet blend between velocity and arc, especially when throwing down the sideline. Though, Lynch’s ability as a deep passer stretches beyond simply his placement. He has a great understanding of when to attack and when to look for a different option. He is not passive, but he is also not reckless. There has been only a handful of passers in the past few draft classes that have the same grasp on calculated risks that Lynch does.
It’s hard to pin any quarterback as a definite fit for the Rams because of the uncertainty of the offense. Paxton Lynch does not have many glaring flaws, though, leaving the offense to be moldable. The concepts above are what fit him best, but he is largely without flaw. That is not to say he is an elite prospect, but considering he can do everything at least at a baseline level, it’s hard to imagine any offense hindering him. Lynch would give the Rams a lot of freedom with their offense- a perfect ingredient for rebuilding an offense.
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