Memphis quarterback Paxton Lynch is projected to be the top quarterback prospect in the 2016 NFL Draft, and an NFL general manager reportedly has stated that his team has Lynch as the top quarterback on their draft board, according to Charlie Campbell of Walter Football. While Lynch is expected to be the top quarterback off the board, sources around the league feel he needs development, but with multiple teams needing a franchise quarterback, he reportedly is expected to get picked in the top-10, according to Campbell.
Lynch has yet to decide whether he will apply for early entry in the 2016 NFL Draft, but with Memphis head coach Justin Fuente leaving for the Virginia Tech head coaching position, many believe the star Tigers quarterback will enter the draft. The 6-foot-7, 245-pound quarterback has had an incredible junior season, throwing for 3,670 yards with 28 touchdowns to only three interceptions.
Fuente has stated that he doesn't believe Lynch has topped out and that he still has room to grow as a quarterback. Lynch has a big arm and has shown this year that he is a legitimate athlete behind center, but whichever team takes him will likely need to develop him further before he becomes a franchise quarterback. Sources around the league are reportedly saying that none of the draft-eligible quarterbacks are at the level of Jameis Winston or Marcus Mariota, but like Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles the need for a quarterback will drive a team to pick him in the first ten picks, according to Campbell.
Memphis faces the Auburn Tigers in the Birmingham Bowl on Dec. 30, and plenty of NFL scouts will want to see how the coveted prospect performs against an SEC defense. Walter Football's mock draft currently has Lynch going as the number one pick to the Cleveland Browns, but there are still four games left in the NFL regular season, and with Johnny Manziel starting down the stretch, there is no certainty that the Browns will take a quarterback or still be in the top spot. It will be interesting to watch how it all plays out, but for Lynch to stay as the top quarterback prospect, he will likely need to have a great performance against Auburn.
