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NFL training camp: Best battle to watch for each team

By John Buhler

CHARLOTTE, NC - OCTOBER 30: Justin Bethel
CHARLOTTE, NC - OCTOBER 30: Justin Bethel /
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ENGLEWOOD, CO – JUNE 15: Denver Broncos quarterer backs coach Bill Musgrave works with Denver Broncos quarterback Paxton Lynch (12) and quarterback Trevor Siemian (13) during practice at mandatory mini camp on June 15, 2017 in Englewood, Colorado at Dove Valley. (Photo by John Leyba/The Denver Post via Getty Images)
ENGLEWOOD, CO – JUNE 15: Denver Broncos quarterer backs coach Bill Musgrave works with Denver Broncos quarterback Paxton Lynch (12) and quarterback Trevor Siemian (13) during practice at mandatory mini camp on June 15, 2017 in Englewood, Colorado at Dove Valley. (Photo by John Leyba/The Denver Post via Getty Images) /

Denver Broncos: Paxton Lynch vs. Trevor Siemian

Without question, the Denver Broncos quarterback battle in training camp between starter Trevor Siemian and former first-round pick Paxton Lynch will be one of the most talked about competitions in camp. Who is going to come out on top?

Ideally, they both push each other to be better. Having a strong offensive coordinator in Mike McCoy should be a boost to both. While Siemian was a Gary Kubiak guy coming out of Northwestern as a former seventh-round pick in 2015, Lynch is John Elway’s guy. Elway traded up in the first-round to draft Lynch a year early out of Memphis.

One could easily argue that Siemian has earned the right to defend his role as the Broncos starter under a new coaching regime. Though he didn’t set the world on fire last year as a starter, he did more than enough to keep the Broncos in the AFC Playoffs race. He went 8-6 as a starter, completing 59.5 percent of his passes for 3,401 yards, 18 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. Not bad for being thrust into the fire after presumed starter Brock Osweiler spurned the team to sign with the Houston Texans in free agency.

As for Lynch, he clearly needed a redshirt year to make the transition to the NFL. He has obvious arm talent, the size and the mobility to be a star in the league. However, he was way over his skies when forced into action last year. If he makes the jump like many think he can in year two, Lynch might when the starting job out of camp. Should Siemian outperform Lynch in camp, then it’s not a bad thing either for the Broncos. Expect them to contend for a playoff berth again in 2017 anyway.