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2016 NFL Draft: 49ers Quarterback Big Board

By Jerod Brown

Apr 30, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; A general view of the stage before the 2015 NFL Draft at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 30, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; A general view of the stage before the 2015 NFL Draft at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports /
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Feb 27, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Memphis Tigers quarterback Paxton Lynch throws a pass during the 2016 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 27, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Memphis Tigers quarterback Paxton Lynch throws a pass during the 2016 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports /

Paxton Lynch-Memphis

College Statistics

At one point in time, Paxton Lynch was talked about as a possibility as the first quarterback to be selected in the 2016 NFL Draft. Some may still feel that way, but the general consensus is that Lynch’s draft stock has slowed over the past two months.

Lynch will enter a team without the scrutiny that the other highly-touted quarterbacks will face. As a result, he’ll be able to focus on developing as a passer.

Lynch is incredibly tall at 6’7″ and he is impressively mobile for a man of his size. In Memphis’ offense, Lynch was expected to make every type of NFL throw and he routinely showed the arm strength to do so. Teams will love to see that Lynch comes with a clean base and quick footwork that helps him throw at any moment from any angle.

The irony in Lynch’s footwork is that he is clean in the pocket and struggles greatly when forced to move off his spot. The mechanics in Lynch’s typically clean delivery go out the window when the quarterback moves laterally behind the line of scrimmage.

Chip Kelly will ask Lynch to be mobile enough to threaten defenses with the zone-read while expecting Lynch to settle his hips and bring his feet through every throw he makes. Lynch’s struggles can be coached out of him by a coach that recognizes the reliance Lynch has on his arm.

Once a coach can convince Lynch to engage everything from his chest down in his throws, he’ll immediately begin to fix some of the problem areas in Lynch’s game. As such, Lynch is towards the top of the 49ers’ quarterback Big Board for the 2016 NFL Draft.

Throws like the following will keep Lynch high among most team’s boards.

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