2016: Paxton Lynch, Quarterback, Denver Broncos
The NFL has way too much of a tendency to fall in love with the “measurables” — height, wingspan, 40-yard dash time, bench press repetitions, and things like that. So when Paxton Lynch entered the 2016 NFL Draft standing 6’7, weighing 245lbs, and showing off elite arm strength, people thought Lynch — who played in a spread offense in college — could be a taller Marcus Mariota.
In the process, they overlooked all the important parts of playing quarterback, which Lynch totally lacked: reading defenses, throwing accurately while throwing on the move, and being able to anticipate passing windows (throwing to where a receiver will be instead of where they currently are). There’s a reason why, after taking Lynch with their top pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, the Denver Broncos have been so reluctant to let Lynch play in a meaningful game. A lot of people believe the Broncos are terrified that Lynch was an enormous mistake.