NFL DRAFT: Selections, analysis, more | Round 1 fantasy analysis

For a team that watched Peyton Manning retire and let Brock Osweiler walk to Houston, it’s a strong statement. As of now, Denver GM John Elway and coach Gary Kubiak intend to start Lynch in the season opener against Carolina.

It’s a hell of a leap for Lynch, who goes from starting his last college game against Auburn in the Birmingham Bowl to going head-to-head against Cam Newton in a rematch of Super Bowl 50.

Paxton Lynch (Getty Images)

That’s the faith Elway is putting in the 6-7, 225-pound quarterback who totaled 50 touchdowns and 13 interceptions the last two years for the Tigers. Lynch is efficient, and that’s all he needs to be for Denver. It got him at a value compared to Jared Goff and Carson Wentz, who have just as many questions heading into their rookie seasons.

Kubiak can work with Lynch. Manning and Osweiler combined to complete 60.7 percent of their passes with 19 TDs and 23 interceptions last season. Denver finished 12-4. Lynch is essentially in a don’t-mess-it-up situation that some of his new rivals were in years ago.

Pittsburgh’s Ben Roethlisberger and Baltimore’s Joe Flacco both led their teams to AFC championship games as rookies because they had the benefit of a strong defense. Denver still has that, and that should make the transition to Lynch a lot easier.

MORE: Should rookie QBs start or sit?  | NFL Draft scenes

Will it be perfect? No.

But look at the alternatives. Mark Sanchez is the best bet on the current roster, and he could start in Week 1. Denver still could trade for Sam Bradford, but that would be expensive.

Elway has been known to pull out surprise moves, and this feels like his surprise move. This could be the most curious quarterback transition ever for a team coming off a Super Bowl win. There’s no need to complicate it further.

Why else would Denver trade up here? Some feel Lynch is the best quarterback prospect in the draft. That might be true. He’s the quarterback prospect in the best situation. That is true.

Sometimes that matters more than everything else. While Goff and Wentz will face the standard 1-2 pick pressure, Lynch’s on-the-job training will get more publicity in 2016. How will he handle it?

That’s the question that needs answered.