2016 NFL Preseason: Predicting Winners of Top QB Battles
By Erik Lambert
There are a number of quarterback battle yet to be decided. That is what the 2016 NFL preseason will be for. Who will come out on top?
While games in August don’t hold near the importance as those in the following months, they do serve a purpose when it comes to determining roster spots. QB of course stands above the rest and there have been plenty of instances in the past where a battle in preseason has determined the outcome of an entire season. So these are decisions that the teams can’t take lightly. Here are the breakdowns for each major competition and who can be expected to emerge victorious.
Denver Broncos: Mark Sanchez v. Paxton Lynch v. Trevor Siemian
No surprise this is the battle everybody is going to watch. After all, the Broncos are the defending champions and expected to do everything possible to keep their crown. To say nothing of the fact that they’re trying to find a replacement for Peyton Manning. Head coach Gary Kubiak insists all three quarterbacks have a shot in this competition. Sanchez is the most experienced. Siemian knows the offense best. Lynch is the most talented.
Truthfully the odds against Siemian are way too long to take seriously. More likely it’s between Sanchez and Lynch. Injury concerns aside, Sanchez has had bursts of decent play in the past and showed he can go deep in the playoffs when he has a strong enough roster around him. At the same time, the nature of this league is about getting rookies on the field sooner than later. If Lynch shows even half competence in preseason it’s hard to see him not getting the nod.
Winner: Paxton Lynch
Next: LA