Draft evaluators across the internet, radio and television all seem to have a soft spot for Paxton Lynch’s natural talents, but many believe he needs some time to develop before he’ll be ready to start for an NFL franchise. In fact, the most famous of them all — the man, the myth, the legend Mel Kiper — said Lynch needs “two to three years to sit, watch and learn.”
On Friday, while visiting with Eric Goodman and Les Shapiro of the Afternoon Drive on Mile High Sports Radio, Lynch’s agent, Leigh Steinberg, responded in kind:
“I think Mel Kiper needs two to three years to sit, watch and learn how to evaluate.”
The Memphis product may not have much experience under center, and he may not have much experience reading defenses or calling pre-snap audibles, but there’s no denying his ability; there’s no denying his drive, either.
Steinberg has spent a lot of time in the NFL, and he has represented a lot of talented quarterbacks, including Troy Aikman and Steve Young, and he’s not afraid to say that Lynch could be one of the next greats.
“I think he has the highest upside of any quarterback in the draft,” Steinberg said. “He’s 6-foot-7, but he’s really athletic. When you watch him run, he’s very fluid; you’d think you’re watching someone much smaller.”
And when it comes to character, you’d be hard pressed to find someone with a better head on his shoulders than Paxton Lynch.
“When you watch him around people, his roommates and he are thick as thieves,” Steinberg said. “His teammates adore him. He’s got a natural, low-key flare for leadership. The reason we were at a bowling alley last night, instead of the bright lights of Chicago, was that he wanted to be with the people that helped make him what he is.”
It’s those qualities that pushed Lynch up the Broncos’ draft board, and conversely, it’s the men with in the Broncos organization which, as Steinberg said, made Denver the “ideal result” for Paxton Lynch.
“To go into a franchise that has John Elway, and has an ex-quarterback as the coach, has a veteran there so that there’s no real pressure to jump out and maybe get mentored a bit, really is ideal,” Steinberg said. “Then you got the fact that you’re living in Denver, with their intense fanbase … Really we were so happy last night, and you saw Paxton’s reaction.”
To hear more of the conversation with Leigh Steinberg, listen below …
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