Nov 14, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Memphis Tigers quarterback Paxton Lynch (12) throws the ball during the fourth quarter against the Houston Cougars at TDECU Stadium. The Cougars won 35-34. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Memphis quarterback Paxton Lynch has steadily climbed draft boards since this football season began. Then a win over No. 13 Mississippi took him all the way up to the top quarterback on many draft boards. He was also starting to enter the conversation for candidates for the Heisman Trophy.
Then he and team lost to Navy 45-20 and Lynch wasn’t great in that game so his Heisman hopes were dashed. But since he’s 6’7″, 240 pounds, athletic and has a big arm, he was forgiven for that game as many of the top quarterback prospects faltered anyway. Then Saturday comes and he loses to Houston and doesn’t particularly stand out in the game.
The NFL is in love with his attributes but after beating Mississippi, losing to Navy and Houston isn’t a good look. Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr downgraded for his effort against USC with a team not as good as USC. And as you know, Carr ended up falling all the way to the second round to the regret of the Houston Texans.
With the size and athleticism Lynch has, he’s not going to fall all the way into the second round. But with Christian Hackenberg, Jared Goff and Connor Cook around, you can question whether or not Lynch is the first quarterback off the board. The other 1st-round quarterbacks are also flawed and have faltered lately but they didn’t lose to Navy.