Signing with Seahawks gives QB Paxton Lynch chance to ‘re-start’ career

The Seahawks bolstered their thinning backup quarterback role by signing former Broncos quarterback Paxton Lynch to a futures/reserve contract Thursday. But for Lynch, coming to Seattle also presents a chance to start over.

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Leigh Steinberg, Lynch’s agent, joined 710 ESPN Seattle’s Danny, Dave and Moore to talk about the former first-round pick — from his time in Denver, to what he brings to Seattle’s locker room.

“Well I think that the opportunity to learn behind Russell Wilson (is what makes Seattle the best fit for Lynch),” Steinberg said. “We saw how that benefited Patrick Mahomes, for example, when he sat behind Alex Smith. But I think as a mentor, (Wilson) is a particularly bright one.

“In a sense, we’re re-starting Paxton’s career. He does two things extraordinarily well, in addition to whatever else a quarterback is, and one is he throws moving outside the pocket. And at his height, it’s sort of amazing to watch him scamper and throw on the run. The other thing he does is he has a great deep touch. In Denver’s offense, neither of those skills were highlighted. It just wasn’t in their scheme. And so when we look at Seattle’s offense, we think he fits much better. And it’s a great organization… Paxton was a first rounder, we though he’d be a franchise quarterback. I think he still will be one day, but this is a good place for him to be.”

Lynch, 24, was drafted 26th-overall by the Broncos in 2016, but was released in September 2018 after having started just four game in two years. To date, he has 792 career yards, four touchdowns and four interceptions.

Despite Lynch’s disappointing career in Denver, Steinberg says the 24-year-old quarterback still has plenty of promise.

“I think they’re getting someone who’s got incredible potential,” Steinberg said. “They’ll love him as a person, and he’ll be a sponge just trying to learn and then, if necessary, to take the reins for a game…

“He didn’t get into the quarterback business until sort of late in high school, and he didn’t have as many years starting as some people did. So it’s not a surprise that there was an adjustment process that was going to occur… but you watch him… I think you’ll find him (to be) an enthusiastic, hard worker.”

You can hear Steinberg’s full interview here. Listen to Danny, Dave and Moore weekdays from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. on 710 ESPN Seattle.