Scouting Profile: Paxton Lynch's raw skillset will require patience

Get an in-depth look at the top prospects in this year's draft class leading up to the NFL draft, which takes place from April 28-30 in Chicago.

Paxton Lynch

Position: QB
School: Memphis
College Experience: Redshirt Junior
Height: 6-7
Weight: 244 lbs.
Age: 22

NFL player comparison: Ben Roethlisberger

Paxton Lynch is not an easy player to find a comparison for. His athleticism isn't off the charts, like a Colin Kaepernick, and despite his similar size, Lynch doesn't have the deep ball talent of a Joe Flacco. His closest comparison is to a young Ben Roethlisberger. While he's improved this area of late, Roethlisberger was not an accurate passer early in his career, and like Lynch, he'd make routine passes more difficult for his receivers than necessary. Lynch is slightly more agile than Roethlisberger, but has the same toughness and arm talent to extend plays in and out of the pocket.

Draft Projection: Round 1

Strengths

• Possesses solid scrambling ability, will be a consistent threat on the ground in the pros.
• Fluid mover in the pocket despite his size.
• Has one of the best arms in the draft, could improve even further with refinement of technique.
• Willing to take a hit in the pocket to deliver a strike.
• Calm and collected under pressure, rarely forced into a poor throw.
• Consistently accurate on deep shots.
• Shows good understanding of when to use touch on throws.

Weaknesses

• Sometimes fails to put enough zip on throws to the outside. Balls can float, which limits the receiver's ability to run after the catch.
• Inconsistent accuracy on short and intermediate throws.
• Poor footwork and technique when rolling out or scrambling which causes inaccuracy.
• Worked almost exclusively out of the shotgun, could struggle with the footwork of dropping consistently from under center.
• Not often asked to go through progression or move past his first read.

Combine Results