Sounds like not just a case of Lynch falling far enough that DEN found his value too compelling at that point and decided to go get him. Elway reportedly had earlier tried to trade up all the way to ATLs pick 17 but found the price prohibitive. Also rumblings that one or more other teams BESIDES DAL were gunning for Lynch.
Peter King MMQB/SI (Friday 4-29 edition)
Super Bowl Champs Win the First Round of the Draft, Too
http://mmqb.si.com/mmqb/2016/04/28/nfl-draft-denver-broncos-paxton-lynch#
Also, some mentioned Lynch's Wonderlic score (18).
Derek Carr was 20, Dan Marino and Terry Bradshaw 16, Jim Kelly, Randall Cunningham and Steve McNair 15, Donovan McNabb 14.
http://wonderlictestsample.com/nfl-wonderlic-scores/
* During the ESPN Draft coverage, Gruden pointed out what a rare dual threat athlete he is (37" VL, same as RB Derrick Henry who is considered an extremely explosive athlete, QB is 4" taller and nearly same weight), with almost 300 carries for 18 TDs. Although he qualified it, noted he struggled to come up with a comp (predecessor Osweiler at virtually identical height/weight a common one for obvious reasons), and cited Cam Newton.
Gruden's QB Camp (VIDEO 23 minutes)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V4Yi4DabEKM
Lance Zierlein of NFL.com invoked Mariota. notes that he cut his INTs from 16 to just four in 2015. Imo the following excerpt from the concluding Bottom Line section was one of the most important in the scouting report - "Unlike other size/speed quarterbacks like Vince Young and Colin Kaepernick, Lynch prefers to extend passing plays with his feet rather than bolting from the pocket...".
[He is a gifted runner but looks to throw first - highlights]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jdm3TayuSUo
http://www.nfl.com/draft/2016/profiles/paxton-lynch?id=2555316
Overview
Lynch was lost a bit in the recruiting process after sitting out half of his senior season due to a knee injury suffered in the preseason, allowing Memphis head coach Justin Fuente to nab the Florida product from the under the noses of in-state schools. He redshirted his first year on campus, but then stepped in to become a three-year starter for Fuente. Lynch went through some ups and downs in his first year as a starter, throwing nine touchdowns against 10 interceptions and completing just 58 percent of his passes for about 2,000 yards in 2013. He improved greatly as a sophomore, leading his team to a 10-win season and American Athletic Conference championship. He received second team All-AAC honors that season by completing 63 percent of his passes for 3,031 yards and 22 scores. Lynch exploded onto the national scene during his junior year, garnering a Manning Award finalist nod, first team All-ACC honors, and team MVP after leading the Tigers to an 8-0 start before the team struggled down the stretch losing to Navy, Houston, and Temple. During the teams hot streak, Lynch beat SEC foe Ole Miss with a 39-for-53, 386-yard, three-touchdown performance. But the next time he faced a SEC defense, Auburn took him to task in the Birmingham Bowl, forcing him to complete just 16 of 37 pass attempts for a measly 106 yards and an interception. Despite finishing the season on a down note, the departure of Fuente for Virginia Tech and positive accolades received from the NFL scouting community led Lynch to take his talents to the next level.
Analysis
Strengths
Very tall, athletic body with ability to scan over the top. Elite foot quickness for a tall quarterback. Can maneuver quickly out of a busy pocket and away from trouble, but desires to keep passing option alive. Sets up in the pocket quickly and generally keeps feet "throw ready". More functional scrambler than "tuck and run" quarterback. Sacked just 15 times over 477 drop backs. Able to win with his feet when he needs to. Has a quick release to overcome his slight wind-up. Has enough arm to drive the ball into restricted windows. Has enough arm to attack downfield while on the move. Makes good decisions. Rarely takes the cheese when cornerbacks try and bait him. Displays qualities of a field leader and isn't easy to rattle. Yards per attempt have exploded over his last two years. Can gain chunk yards as zone-read quarterback and will appeal to boot-action teams. Will be challenging to defend in the red area. Took better care of the football cutting turnovers down from 16 last season to just four this year. Completed 54.6 percent on intermediate throws (1120) and 44.9 percent on deep balls (21-plus yards) including 19 touchdowns and just two interceptions.
Weaknesses
Needs to improve ball placement for catch-and-run throws. Inability to throw with desired accuracy on the move forced him to leave yards and plays on the field. Must learn to better anticipate routes and stay ahead in the rep. Doesn't quite have the quickness through progressions that he will need in the pros. Has to learn to move defenders around with his eyes to open throwing lanes. At times, crowds targets against the sideline. Needs to stop babying play-action passes and cut them loose. Consistency of arm strength has been overstated. Inconsistent weight transfer in delivery forces him to muscle some throws. Perimeter throws lack velocity and will nosedive on him. His ball comes out with wobble and isnt always the most catchable. Touch throws over inside linebackers needs work.
Draft Projection
Round 1
NFL Comparison
Marcus Mariota
Bottom Line
While the hype around "dual threat" quarterbacks has subsided, Lynch possesses the size and athleticism to make NFL teams take a second look. Unlike other size/speed quarterbacks like Vince Young and Colin Kaepernick, Lynch prefers to extend passing plays with his feet rather than bolting from the pocket, but he is still likely to make plenty of plays with his feet over the long haul. Lynch shows the ability to read defenses and make smart decisions, but not yet at an NFL starting level. While he has the physical tools to start right away, a team who is willing to allow him to sit and study his craft for a year could reap maximum rewards in the future.
** Schedule note - DEN plays HOU and Osweiler on MNF week 7 (?), and would have 10 days to prepare Lynch to start if they were so inclined.