With the selection of quarterback Paxton Lynch on Thursday by the Denver Broncos in the first round of the 2016 NFL draft, veteran QB Mark Sanchez appears to have a good chance to start for the team this season. The Broncos traded with the Seattle Seahawks to move up five slots from 31 to 26 by giving up their number 94 pick in the third round. GM John Elway tweeted:

We're thrilled that Paxton Lynch is going to be a Bronco. He fits what we do very well and plays the game with a lot of enthusiasm. — John Elway (@johnelway) April 29, 2016

The Broncos have a very tight salary cap room of only $1.187 million adjusted for the projected expenditure of $6.031 million for the draft pool, according to Spotrac.com. Since Lynch was chosen in the first round, the Broncos will have an option to pick up a fifth year under the controlled contract guidelines of the 2011 collective bargaining agreement. The first four years of Lynch’s contract are projected to cost $9.48 million. This is an important financial consideration to make room for the impending long-term mega deal with linebacker Von Miller.

Consequently it will be very expensive for GM John Elway to create enough space to sign another veteran QB such as San Francisco 49ers Colin Kaepernick or free agent Brian Hoyer. Kaepernick has a guaranteed salary of $11.9 million, and Hoyer made $5.218 million last season with the Houston Texans. It is no wonder that Elway said that the pursuit of Kaepernick is now over, per Denver Post‘s Nicki Jhabvala. But Elway also said that he will continue to pursue another QB, albeit an inexpensive one.

With Lynch needing at least one or two years to develop as an NFL starter, the Broncos appear to have growing comfort for Sanchez to start during the 2016 season even though Denver Post‘s Cameron Wolfe says that Elway will be an open competition for starting QB:

Elway said Lynch will compete with Sanchez and Siemian for starting job. — Cameron Wolfe (@CameronWolfe) April 29, 2016

After his selection by the Broncos, Lynch said

I wouldn’t say I am a project. Obviously every quarterback coming out of college, we have stuff that they need to work on. I don’t think any quarterback is ready so I guess you could say every quarterback is a project when they first get in. There are some good quarterbacks on the roster right now and I know there will be good competition between all of us.

Since Sanchez was acquired by the Broncos from the Philadelphia Eagles on March 11, he has made a very positive impression on Elway, coach Gary Kubiak, and several players. “We’re happy with Mark“, said Elway. “I know Mark is excited about being here and we’re excited about having him.”

Sanchez has participated in community outreach, such as the Denver Public Schools’ “Futures Football” program with defensive end Kenny Anunike and cornerback Lorenzo Doss.

Great time with Denver Public Schools and their "Futures Football" teams from Kennedy and Montbello @anu_nike91 @lorenzo_doss6 @broncos And happy belated bday to @lorenzo_doss6 A photo posted by Mark Sanchez (@mark_sanchez) on Apr 23, 2016 at 2:19pm PDT

Last Sunday he also had an outing to watch a Colorado Rockies game with several members of the Broncos offensive line:

Rockies with the new family. A photo posted by Russell Okung (@russellokung) on Apr 24, 2016 at 1:31pm PDT

From left to right: guard Ty Sambrailo, tackle Michael Schofield, Sanchez, guard Robert Myers, center Matt Paradis, tackle Donald Stephenson, and tackle Russell Okung.

Thursday was also the start of the Broncos’ voluntary veterans mini camp. 9NEWS’ Mike Klis tweeted:

Bumped into Mark Sanchez coming out of QB meeting room 3 1/2 hrs after rest of players went home. Studying playbook/film. #wantsit #9sports — Mike Klis (@MikeKlis) April 28, 2016

As a Bronco Sanchez has shown consistent hard work including renting a house in Southern California to room with Broncos receivers while they had intensive voluntary workouts.

Related Mark Sanchez rented house for teammates for California practice sessions

Upon first arriving at the team’s UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Sanchez said,

This is an incredible opportunity. This doesn’t just happen. This isn’t an opportunity that I’m going to squander. I’m going to take all that experience that I have learned from any mistakes and build on any of the positive things and just put my best foot forward here as a Bronco and help this team win.

So far Sanchez is following through on his pledge.