Broncos down to last choice

And now the Broncos are throwing Paxton Lynch against the wall to see if he sticks.

What could possibly go wrong?

But, if you ask me, this is a can’t-lose situation for Lynch.

How many other NFL quarterbacks have been widely considered a first-round draft bust before getting three starts as a pro? Lynch was asked Wednesday if he considered this his last chance to prove he can make it as Denver’s starting quarterback.

Last chance? Whatever happened to giving a young QB more than two games to grow?

For Lynch, there’s really nothing to lose, except his reputation as another draft mistake by Broncos general manager John Elway.

I asked Lynch what he would consider a success in his role as the third quarterback to start for the Broncos in the worst football season around here in years.

“Getting a win,” Lynch replied. “I want to go out there and win the game.”

Now wouldn’t that be a refreshing change? The Broncos, losers of six games in a row, are so bad they are being laughed at in their own stadium. So maybe it will be easier on the ego (and the ears) of Lynch to make his 2017 debut on the road against the Oakland Raiders. And maybe it’s also appropriate Lynch will go to work in the Black Hole,

considering he’s a quarterback that two Denver coaching staffs have basically kept locked in a closet since being drafted 26th overall in 2016.

“It’s simply his turn,” said coach Vance Joseph, succinctly explaining why Lynch is being given a tryout.

The Broncos simply don’t know where else to turn. Go get ’em, kid.

This is not to suggest the Broncos have low expectations for Lynch, but when asked to describe what attributes the 23-year-old quarterback from Memphis, Tenn., brings to the Denver huddle, the first thing new offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave said was: “He’s definitely tall.”

Well, alrighty then. At 6-foot-7, Lynch will always be taller than Dak Prescott, the quarterback from the 2016 draft class to which he will forever be compared, even if it’s not entirely fair.

Here’s what is fair: The two discarded quarterbacks that got a shot before Lynch for the lastplace Broncos have thrown 14 interceptions and only 12 touchdowns in 10 regular-season games. Trevor Siemian’s quarterback rating is an abysmal 76.8, but even that’s better than the failing grade of 65.5 posted by Brock Osweiler.

If Lynch is not the worst quarterback in the NFL, he will be an improvement for the Broncos. Yes, the bar is set low.

“It’s going to be his third NFL start. It won’t be perfect, but again, we have to coach him to the point where he can be efficient with the offense. That’s what we’re doing,” Joseph said. “Running the football is always a must for a young quarterback, and giving him a chance to have some easy completions. That’s also a must for young quarterbacks. I’m looking forward to watching him play because he can run around. His skill set is perfect when you’re young. If it breaks down, he can run with the football. I told him, ‘Just play. Don’t try to be a pocket passer. We call a play and it’s not there, take off and run.’ ”

Full disclosure: I was as excited as anyone in Colorado when the Broncos traded up to draft Lynch. If he flops, I was as wrong as Elway in thinking Lynch had a chance to be a worthy heir to Peyton Manning.

And here’s my primary concern about the situation facing Lynch. No, it’s not the fact the Broncos are starting a revolving door at right tackle or the fear that the best days (and catches) of receiver Demaryius Thomas are behind him. But it seems legitimate to wonder if a locker room of athletes insulted as soft by Elway has already made plans for January, at the beach instead of for the playoffs. From running back C.J. Anderson to cornerback Aqib Talib, there are key players that might have to fight a case of short-timers disease.

“We are playing for now. Playing Paxton is kind of a twofer. We have to see where he is as a quarterback, but we want to win on Sunday,” Joseph said. “That’s not mistaken in our locker room. Everything we’re doing this week is pointed to Sunday, to win a football game.”

In a league where you’ve got no shot without an elite quarterback, the Broncos are counting on two long shots.

Elway was right when he drafted Lynch, or …

Elway will finally get it right when he goes looking for the quarterback to replace Lynch.