The San Antonio Brahmas made a rather intriguing move on Wednesday. In the wake of Kurt Benkert’s season-ending injury, San Antonio claimed a veteran quarterback to serve as his replacement.
The Brahmas claimed Paxton Lynch off waivers from the Orlando Guardians. The 29-year-old completed 65-of-109 passes for 737 yards, four touchdowns, and one interception with Orlando.
The move comes after Lynch, along with the entire Guardians team, struggled mightily to begin their XFL existence. Orlando began the season 0-6 before a shocking win over the previously undefeated DC Defenders.
However, Lynch didn’t play in that game. The former NFL first-round pick hasn’t played since Week 5. He threw nine passes in that game, completing five of them for 47 yards.
So, what exactly are the Brahmas getting from their new quarterback? What can they expect from Lynch as they prepare to wind down their first season in the XFL? Let’s take a look at the team’s newest signal caller.
Paxton Lynch: Pre-XFL
Lynch was a highly touted prospect coming out of college. The 29-year-old played at Memphis, and he shined. He threw 59 career touchdowns and racked up 8863 passing yards.
His body of work was enough for the Denver Broncos to give him a shot. Denver traded up and selected Lynch with the 26th pick in the 2016 NFL Draft.
Things didn’t work out in Denver for the Memphis product, however. In fact, Lynch played in just five regular season games, throwing for 792 yards and four touchdowns.
Lynch had stints with the Seattle Seahawks and Pittsburgh Steelers, but nothing came out of those opportunities. He signed with the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League in June 2021 but never played a game.
The Memphis product finally received a shot in the revived USFL. He was drafted by the Michigan Panthers in the inaugural draft and ended up making a few starts.
With the Panthers, Lynch played six games, starting three. He threw for 550 yards and four touchdowns, but he also threw four interceptions as Michigan struggled.
What Lynch Brings
In a weird way, Lynch is a bit of an outlier when compared to other players in spring football. He reached major heights, being selected in the first round of the NFL Draft. And yet, he hasn’t received a ton of opportunity.
Lynch gets another opportunity with the Brahmas here, and he brings a very vital component to the team’s quarterback room: experience.
The Brahmas currently have Jack Coan and Jawon Pass in their quarterback room. Neither has played in the NFL. Coan hadn’t played professional football outside of the XFL. The same also applies to Pass.
The 29-year-old Lynch may not bring the most impressive numbers with him. But he can provide serviceable play when needed, and he can help the other two quarterbacks develop as they begin their professional careers.
Featured Photo Credit: Thomas Lightbody/XFL
