Personal information | |||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Born: | San Antonio, Texas, U.S. | February 12, 1994||||||||||
Height: | 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) | ||||||||||
Weight: | 245 lb (111 kg) | ||||||||||
Career information | |||||||||||
High school: | Trinity Christian Academy (Deltona, Florida) | ||||||||||
College: | Memphis (2012–2015) | ||||||||||
Position: | Quarterback | ||||||||||
NFL draft: | 2016 / round: 1 / pick: 26 | ||||||||||
Career history | |||||||||||
* Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |||||||||||
Career NFL statistics | |||||||||||
| |||||||||||
Stats at CFL.ca |
Paxton James Lynch [1] (born February 12, 1994) is an American professional football quarterback. He played college football for the Memphis Tigers, and was selected in the first round of the 2016 NFL draft by the Denver Broncos. Lynch played just two seasons in Denver and made four starts before being released prior to the 2018 season. Lynch has also been a member of the Seattle Seahawks, Pittsburgh Steelers, the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League (CFL), the Michigan Panthers of the United States Football League (USFL), and the Orlando Guardians and San Antonio Brahmas of the XFL.
Lynch attended Trinity Christian Academy in Deltona, Florida, where he played football and basketball. [2] During his high school career, he passed for 2,099 yards. Lynch was rated by Rivals.com as a three-star recruit. [3] He committed to the University of Memphis to play college football. [4] [5]
After redshirting for his freshman year at Memphis in 2012, Lynch was named the Tigers' starting quarterback prior to the 2013 season. [6] [7] He started all 12 games, completing 203 of 349 passes for 2,056 yards, nine touchdowns and 10 interceptions. [8] As a sophomore in 2014, Lynch started all 13 games. He completed 259 of 413 attempts for 3,031 yards, 22 touchdowns, and nine interceptions. He also rushed for 321 yards and 13 touchdowns. [9] [10] [11] Lynch was named the MVP of the 2014 Miami Beach Bowl after passing for 306 yards with four passing touchdowns and three rushing touchdowns against BYU. [12] As a junior in 2015, Lynch again started all 13 games. He completed 296 of 443 passes (66.8%) for 3,778 yards, 28 touchdowns (all five school records) [13] [14] and four interceptions. In Memphis' 63–0 victory over SMU, Lynch tied a Football Bowl Subdivision record with seven passing touchdowns in a half. He finished 9 of 14 for 222 yards, and completed his touchdown throws to seven different receivers. [15] [16] After the season, he decided to forgo his senior year and enter the 2016 NFL draft. [17] Lynch graduated from Memphis in May 2016 with a B.S.E. in sport and leisure management. [1]
Lynch's 35 touchdowns in 2014 and 30 in 2015 are first and second in Memphis history, and his 76 for his career is second all-time. He also ranks first and second for most total offense in a season (4,015 yards in 2015; 3,352 in 2014). [18] He has four of the seven most passing yards in a game, including the school record 447 on October 23, 2015, at Tulsa. [19] He ranks second all-time in career attempts, completions, completion percentage, passing yards, and passing touchdowns. [14]
Season | Team | Passing | Rushing | ||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cmp | Att | Pct | Yds | Avg | TD | Int | Rtg | Att | Yds | Avg | TD | ||||
Memphis Tigers | |||||||||||||||
2013 | Memphis | 203 | 349 | 58.2 | 2,056 | 5.9 | 9 | 10 | 110.4 | 88 | 127 | 1.4 | 2 | ||
2014 | Memphis | 259 | 413 | 62.7 | 3,031 | 7.3 | 22 | 9 | 137.6 | 113 | 321 | 2.8 | 13 | ||
2015 | Memphis | 296 | 443 | 66.8 | 3,776 | 8.5 | 28 | 4 | 157.5 | 87 | 239 | 2.7 | 2 | ||
Career | 758 | 1,205 | 62.9 | 8,863 | 7.4 | 59 | 23 | 137.0 | 288 | 687 | 2.4 | 17 |
Lynch was predicted to be selected in the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft by draft analysts and in mock drafts prior to the draft. He was rated the third best quarterback in the 2016 draft by NFLDraftScout.com. [20]
Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand span | 40-yard dash | 10-yard split | 20-yard split | 20-yard shuttle | Three-cone drill | Vertical jump | Broad jump | Wonderlic | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
6 ft 6+5⁄8 in (2.00 m) | 244 lb (111 kg) | 34+1⁄4 in (0.87 m) | 10+1⁄4 in (0.26 m) | 4.86 s | 1.66 s | 2.81 s | 4.26 s | 7.14 s | 36 in (0.91 m) | 9 ft 10 in (3.00 m) | 18 | |
All values from NFL Combine [21] [20] |
The Denver Broncos selected Lynch in the first round (26th overall) of the 2016 NFL Draft in a pick acquired from the Seattle Seahawks for their first and third round pick. [22] He was the third of 15 quarterbacks taken, behind Jared Goff and Carson Wentz, the #1 and #2 overall picks. [23] On June 9, 2016, the Broncos signed Lynch to a four-year, $9,476,296 contract with a $5,091,852 signing bonus. [24]
On October 2, 2016, Lynch played in his first NFL regular-season game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, replacing the injured Trevor Siemian. He finished with 170 passing yards on 14 of 24 attempts and threw his first career touchdown pass to wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders in a 27–7 road win at Raymond James Stadium. [25] In Week 5, Lynch started his first NFL game, completing 23 of 35 passes for 223 yards, one touchdown, and one interception in the 23–16 loss to the Atlanta Falcons. He was sacked six times, a record for a Broncos rookie. [26] [27] In Week 13, Lynch again replaced the injured Siemian against the Jacksonville Jaguars, posting 12 completions on 24 passing attempts for 104 yards in a 20–10 win. [28] Overall, he finished his rookie season with 497 passing yards, two passing touchdowns, and one interception. [29]
Lynch suffered a shoulder injury against the Green Bay Packers in the team's third preseason game of the 2017 season. [30] In Week 11 against the Cincinnati Bengals, Lynch was active for the first time that season and was the backup to Brock Osweiler. [31] On November 21, Lynch was named the team's starter for the Week 12 game against the Oakland Raiders. [32] Lynch completed 9 of 14 passes for 41 yards and an interception that occurred in the endzone, the Raiders' first interception of the season. Lynch left the game with an ankle injury in the third quarter and was relieved by Siemian for the remainder of the game as the Broncos lost 21–14. [33] A day after the game, it was announced that Lynch would miss two to four weeks due to his injury. [34] On December 31, Lynch started the regular season finale against the Kansas City Chiefs. In the 27–24 loss, he finished 21 of 31 for 254 passing yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions. [35]
Going into mini-camps for the 2018 season, it was announced that Lynch would serve as backup quarterback, behind the newly acquired Case Keenum. [36] Two days after the Broncos preseason opener against the Minnesota Vikings, the team announced that Lynch had been demoted to third-string quarterback as Chad Kelly was promoted to backup. He was released by the Broncos on September 2, 2018, after the team acquired Kevin Hogan. In two seasons with the team, Lynch made just four starts and threw four touchdowns and four interceptions. [37]
On January 17, 2019, Lynch signed with the Seattle Seahawks after spending the 2018 season as a free agent. [38] He was waived on August 30, 2019, during final roster cuts. [39]
On September 17, 2019, Lynch was signed to the practice squad of the Pittsburgh Steelers. [40] He was promoted to the active roster on October 11, 2019, following an injury to Mason Rudolph. [41]
On September 5, 2020, Lynch was waived by the Steelers during final roster cuts. [42]
On June 28, 2021, it was announced that Lynch had signed with the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League (CFL). [43] He did not dress for games during the season as he was the fourth string quarterback and spent most of the time on the one-game injured list. He was released on February 22, 2022. [44]
On February 22, 2022, Lynch signed with the United States Football League and was selected with the eighth pick of the 12th round of the 2022 USFL draft by the Michigan Panthers. Lynch was the last of 16 quarterbacks taken in the draft and the only one to have started an NFL regular season game before being drafted. [45] He was transferred to the inactive roster on May 5, 2022, [46] with a leg injury. [47]
Lynch signed with the Orlando Guardians of the XFL on January 30, 2023. [48] In his Week 1 start against the Houston Roughnecks, Lynch completed 14 of 20 passes for 125 yards with one passing touchdown, as well as one interception before being benched for backup quarterback Quinten Dormady in the 33–12 loss. Lynch was waived on April 5, 2023. [49]
On April 5, 2023, the San Antonio Brahmas claimed Lynch off waivers from the Orlando Guardians. [50] He was not part of the roster after the 2024 UFL dispersal draft on January 15, 2024. [51]
Year | Team | Games | Passing | Rushing | ||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GP | GS | Record | Cmp | Att | Pct | Yds | Avg | TD | Int | Rtg | Att | Yds | Avg | TD | ||
2016 | DEN | 3 | 2 | 1–1 | 49 | 83 | 59.0 | 497 | 6.0 | 2 | 1 | 79.2 | 11 | 25 | 2.3 | 0 |
2017 | DEN | 2 | 2 | 0–2 | 30 | 45 | 66.7 | 295 | 6.6 | 2 | 3 | 72.0 | 5 | 30 | 6.0 | 0 |
2019 | PIT | 0 | 0 | 0–0 | DNP | |||||||||||
Career | 5 | 4 | 1–3 | 79 | 128 | 61.7 | 792 | 6.2 | 4 | 4 | 76.7 | 16 | 55 | 3.4 | 0 |
Year | Team | Games | Passing | Rushing | ||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GP | GS | Record | Cmp | Att | Pct | Yds | Avg | TD | Int | Rtg | Att | Yds | Avg | TD | ||
2022 | MICH | 6 | 3 | 2–1 | 54 | 83 | 65.1 | 550 | 6.6 | 5 | 4 | 83.9 | 20 | 74 | 3.7 | 2 |
Year | Team | Games | Passing | Rushing | ||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GP | GS | Record | Cmp | Att | Pct | Yds | Avg | TD | Int | Rtg | Att | Yds | Avg | TD | ||
2023 | ORL | 5 | 5 | 0–5 | 65 | 109 | 59.6 | 737 | 6.8 | 4 | 1 | 88.4 | 18 | 68 | 3.8 | 1 |
SA | 0 | 0 | 0–0 | DNP | ||||||||||||
Casey Austin Keenum is an American professional football quarterback for the Houston Texans of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Houston Cougars, where he became the NCAA's all-time leader in total passing yards, touchdowns, and completions. In the 2008 college football season, Keenum ranked first nationally in total offense and second in total passing yards.
Joshua Javon Johnson is an American professional football quarterback for the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League (NFL). Johnson has been a member of 14 different NFL teams, the most in league history. He also played in the United Football League (UFL) and the XFL.
Russell Carrington Wilson is an American professional football quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). He previously played 10 seasons for the Seattle Seahawks and two seasons for the Denver Broncos. With the Seahawks, Wilson was named to the Pro Bowl nine times and helped Seattle win their first Super Bowl championship in Super Bowl XLVIII. He is regarded as one of the greatest dual-threat quarterbacks of all time.
Brock Alan Osweiler is an American former professional football quarterback who played in the National Football League (NFL) for seven seasons. He played college football for the Arizona State Sun Devils and was selected by the Denver Broncos in the second round of the 2012 NFL draft. Osweiler first served as the Broncos' starter during their Super Bowl-winning season in 2015 when he relieved an injured Peyton Manning and helped Denver get the top seed in the AFC heading into the postseason, although Manning resumed his starting duties for the playoffs and eventual Super Bowl 50 victory.
Brett Alan Hundley Jr. is an American former professional football quarterback. He played college football for the UCLA Bruins, where he was the school's career leader in both total offense and touchdown passes. He was selected by the Green Bay Packers in the fifth round of the 2015 NFL draft, and started nine games for them in 2017, following a collarbone injury to Aaron Rodgers.
Jeffrey Matthew Driskel is an American professional football quarterback for the Washington Commanders of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Florida Gators and Louisiana Tech Bulldogs and was selected by the San Francisco 49ers in the sixth round of the 2016 NFL draft. Driskel has played for the Cincinnati Bengals, Detroit Lions, Denver Broncos, Houston Texans, Arizona Cardinals, and Cleveland Browns.
Kevin Michael Hogan is an American professional football quarterback for the San Antonio Brahmas of the United Football League (UFL). He played college football for the Stanford Cardinal and was selected by the Kansas City Chiefs in the fifth round of the 2016 NFL draft. He has also been a member of the Cleveland Browns, Washington Redskins, Denver Broncos, Cincinnati Bengals, Tennessee Titans, and Houston Texans.
Brandon Duc Allen is an American professional football quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Arkansas Razorbacks and was their starting quarterback from 2013 to 2015. He was selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the sixth round of the 2016 NFL draft and has also previously been a member of the Los Angeles Rams, Denver Broncos, and Cincinnati Bengals.
Robby Blake Bortles is an American former professional football quarterback who played in the National Football League (NFL) for eight seasons, primarily with the Jacksonville Jaguars. He played college football for the UCF Knights, where he received AAC Offensive Player of the Year honors as a junior and was MVP of the 2014 Fiesta Bowl. Bortles was selected by the Jaguars third overall in the 2014 NFL draft.
Trevor John Siemian is an American professional football quarterback for the Tennessee Titans of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Northwestern Wildcats and was selected by the Denver Broncos in the seventh round of the 2015 NFL draft. Siemian was part of the Broncos when they won Super Bowl 50, serving as the third-string quarterback behind starter Peyton Manning and backup Brock Osweiler. He has also been a member of the Minnesota Vikings, New York Jets, New Orleans Saints, Chicago Bears, and Cincinnati Bengals.
Chad Patrick Kelly is an American professional football quarterback for the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played college football at Clemson and Ole Miss. The Denver Broncos selected him in the seventh round with the final pick of the 2017 NFL draft, making him that year's Mr. Irrelevant. He has also been a member of the Indianapolis Colts.
Brett Robert Rypien is an American professional football quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Boise State Broncos and signed with the Denver Broncos as an undrafted free agent in 2019, and has also been a member of the Los Angeles Rams, Seattle Seahawks, and New York Jets. He is the nephew of Super Bowl XXVI MVP quarterback Mark Rypien.
Stephen Case Cookus, nicknamed the Chef, is an American professional football quarterback for the Memphis Showboats of the United Football League (UFL). As a true freshman at Northern Arizona University, he was named the recipient of the 2015 Jerry Rice Award and the STATS FCS Freshman Player of the Year Award, both of which are awarded to the most outstanding freshman player in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision. He holds the record for most combined passing and rushing touchdowns in a USFL game with five, which he accomplished in a game against the Michigan Panthers on June 5, 2022.
Andrew Stephen Lock is an American professional football quarterback for the New York Giants of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Missouri Tigers and was selected by the Denver Broncos in the second round of the 2019 NFL draft. He has also played for the Seattle Seahawks.
Quinton Lenard Flowers is an American professional football quarterback who is a free agent. He played college football for the South Florida Bulls.
Clayton James Thorson is a former American football quarterback. He was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the fifth round of the 2019 NFL draft. He played college football at Northwestern.
Bo Chapman Nix is an American professional football quarterback for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). The NCAA's leader in games played at the position, he played three seasons of college football for the Auburn Tigers and was named the 2019 SEC Freshman of the Year. In 2022, Nix transferred to the Oregon Ducks and was a 2023 Heisman Trophy finalist after leading the FBS in touchdowns. He was selected by the Broncos 12th overall in the 2024 NFL draft.
Benjamin Anthony DiNucci, is an American professional football quarterback. He played college football at James Madison and was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys of the NFL in the seventh round of the 2020 NFL draft.
Kendall Hinton is an American professional football wide receiver. He played college football for the Wake Forest Demon Deacons as a quarterback and wide receiver and signed with the Broncos as an undrafted free agent in 2020. That season, he made an appearance as an emergency quarterback following the rest of the team's quarterbacks being placed in COVID-19 quarantine for a week. In doing so, Hinton became the first non-professional quarterback to play significant snaps at the position in an NFL game since running back Tom Matte with the Baltimore Colts in 1965.
Zachary Kapono Wilson is an American professional football quarterback for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the BYU Cougars and was selected second overall by the New York Jets in the 2021 NFL draft. Wilson served as the Jets' starter during his first three seasons, but inconsistent play led to him being traded to the Broncos in 2024.