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The cost of a franchise quarterback in today’s NFL

By Sayre Bedinger

Apr 28, 2017; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Texans general manager Rick Smith (left) and Texans first round draft pick Deshaun Watson (middle left) and vice chairman D. Cal McNair (middle right) and head coach Bill O'Brien (right) pose for a picture during a press conference at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 28, 2017; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Texans general manager Rick Smith (left) and Texans first round draft pick Deshaun Watson (middle left) and vice chairman D. Cal McNair (middle right) and head coach Bill O'Brien (right) pose for a picture during a press conference at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 18, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Broncos quarterback Paxton Lynch (12) warms up prior to the game against the Indianapolis Colts at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 18, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Broncos quarterback Paxton Lynch (12) warms up prior to the game against the Indianapolis Colts at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports /

Paxton Lynch, Denver Broncos

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As far as trades go, the Denver Broncos paid the least of anyone on this list. That doesn’t necessarily mean anything, but the Broncos were in a similar situation in 2016 to the Houston Texans this year.

The Broncos were coming off of a Super Bowl win, and had lost Peyton Manning to retirement and Brock Osweiler to free agency. They failed to come to terms with Colin Kaepernick in a sign-and-trade, and were left to the Draft to figure things out.

John Elway perhaps got a little too cute with this one, but it worked out for him. He managed to only have to move up five spots in the first round of the 2016 Draft and got the guy he wanted all along in Paxton Lynch, the big, strong-armed, athletic quarterback out of Memphis.

Lynch’s first season with the Broncos was a mixed bag. He only played in a few games, and struggled in all but one. The Broncos — like the Eagles — have made it their mission to reinforce and protect the investment they made at the quarterback this offseason, and Lynch should be better for it.

As with all of these trades, it’s important to note that every team feels like it has a long-term solution at quarterback. The price, in that regard, is almost meaningless. However, it’s interesting to look at what prices these teams were willing to pay for certain prospects at different parts of the draft.

Moving forward, the cost of acquiring top talent at quarterback should only continue to get wilder and crazier, and as long as there is demand, teams will continue paying it.

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