If you want to pinpoint exactly when almost a full decade of misery following their Super Bowl 50 win began for the Denver Broncos, you can point to an exact date: April 28, 2016.
That was the day the Broncos drafted quarterback Paxton Lynch in the 1st round (No. 26 overall), setting off a series of events that would lead to the franchise missing the playoffs for 8 consecutive seasons.
It’s also why Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox named the Broncos selecting Lynch as the “Worst Draft Pick of the Century” in 1 of the most talent-packed drafts in NFL history.
If the Broncos wanted a quarterback, Knox points out, they could have had Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott just 3 rounds later when he was selected in the 4th round (No. 135 overall).
One decade later, Prescott is still 1 of the NFL’s elite quarterbacks.
Lynch hasn’t played in an NFL game since 2017.
“The Denver Broncos won the Super Bowl with Peyton Manning at quarterback in the 2015 season,” Knox wrote. “However, Manning retired following the win, and Denver entered the 2016 draft needing a long-term answer behind center. Ironically, the Broncos and Cowboys both tried to make a move up to select Memphis quarterback Paxton Lynch. Denver won the bidding war, sending the 31st pick and a third-rounder to the Seattle Seahawks in exchange for the 26th pick and the chance to draft Lynch … Lynch started just four games over two seasons in Denver, and he never appeared in a regular-season game after his release.”
Paxton Lynch Tried to Make Comeback in 2026
Lynch hasn’t given up on his football dreams.
After he was released by the Broncos in 2018, he was out of football for an entire year before returning to spend 2019 with the Seattle Seahawks and Pittsburgh Steelers.
He was out of football again in 2020 before returning in 2021 with the CFL’s Saskatchewan Roughriders, then spent the 2022 and 2023 seasons with 3 different UFL teams.
After 2 more years out of professional football, Lynch’s latest comeback attempt was in March 2026, playing arena football.
From Heavy’s Josh Buckhalter: “(Lynch) joined the Colorado Spartans of the National Arena League in March. Unfortunately for Lynch, a torn ACL ended his season two-plus games into it, before he was able to play in front of the home crowd.”
In 3 NFL seasons, Lynch banked almost $9 million in career earnings.
Broncos Missed On Many Talented Players in 2016
Drafting Lynch wasn’t the only mistake the Broncos made in the 2016 draft, he was just the worst of the bunch.
While the Broncos drafted a pair of NFL All-Pros in 2016 with safety Justin Simmons (3rd round) and punter Riley Dixon (7th round), those picks pale in comparison to who they could have taken.
Just 1 pick after Lynch, the Green Bay Packers selected 2-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Kenny Clark. The Broncos could have also had a trio of 2nd round picks who became NFL superstars in 3-time Super Bowl champion defensive tackle Chris Jones (Kansas City Chiefs) and a pair of future NFL Offensive Player of the Year award winners in running back Derrick Henry (Tennessee Titans) and wide receiver Michael Thomas (New Orleans Saints).
Afeter with Prescott in the 4th round, the Broncos could have has had 6-time NFL All-Pro wide receiver Tyreek Hill (Chiefs) in the 5th round.
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