Many(myself included) had high hopes for Paxton Lynch when the Broncos traded up for him in the 2016 NFL Draft. He was a raw prospect with good size, intriguing tools, plus athleticism, and a player who fit the Broncos desperate need at quarterback.
Keep in mind they just lost Brock Osweiler to the Texans in free agency, signed Mark Sanchez, passed on Colin Kaepernick, and were just beginning to go down the Trevor Siemian road. So they needed a young “quarterback of the future” and Lynch fit that bill.