Paxton Lynch during his introductory press conference at Broncos headquarters. (Andy Cross, The Denver Post)
Quarterback Paxton Lynch hasn’t played a single NFL down. But he’s already No. 17 on the NFL Players’ Association list of 50 “future top-selling stars.”
The list, via the NFLPA’s marketing arm NFL Players Inc., is of the players “best positioned to rank among top-sellers of all officially licensed merchandise and become future retail stars,” taking into account their on-field performance in 2015, their fantasy popularity and demand from sponsors. Players on the list previously are not included a second time.
Rams running back Todd Gurley tops the list, while Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins, Seahawks running back Thomas Rawls, Rams quarterback Jared Goff and Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott round out the top five.
Lynch is the only Broncos player in the top 50.
The full 50:
NFLPA 2016 Rising 50:
1. Todd Gurley, RB, Los Angeles Rams
2. Kirk Cousins, QB, Washington Redskins
3. Thomas Rawls, RB, Seattle Seahawks
4. Jared Goff, QB, Los Angeles Rams
5. Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Dallas Cowboys
6. Andy Dalton, QB, Cincinnati Bengals
7. DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Houston Texans
8. Josh Norman, DB, Washington Redskins
9. Allen Robinson, WR, Jacksonville Jaguars
10. Carson Wentz, QB, Philadelphia Eagles
11. David Johnson, RB, Arizona Cardinals
12. Keenan Allen, WR, San Diego Chargers
13. Devonta Freeman, RB, Atlanta Falcons
14. Tyrann Mathieu, DB, Arizona Cardinals
15. Jeremy Langford, RB, Chicago Bears
16. Tyrod Taylor, QB, Buffalo Bills
17. Paxton Lynch, QB, Denver Broncos
18. Doug Baldwin, WR, Seattle Seahawks
19. Tyler Lockett, WR/KR, Seattle Seahawks
20. Aaron Donald, DL, Los Angeles Rams
21. Kelvin Benjamin, WR, Carolina Panthers
22. Randall Cobb, WR, Green Bay Packers
23. Lamar Miller, RB, Houston Texans
24. Jordan Reed, TE, Washington Redskins
25. Brock Osweiler, QB, Houston Texans
26. T.Y. Hilton, WR, Indianapolis Colts
27. Mike Evans, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
28. Gary Barnidge, TE, Cleveland Browns
29. Patrick Peterson, DB, Arizona Cardinals
30. Joey Bosa, DE, San Diego Chargers
31. Eric Decker, WR, New York Jets
32. Jarvis Landry, WR, Miami Dolphins
33. Stefon Diggs, WR, Minnesota Vikings
34. Buck Allen, RB, Baltimore Ravens
35. Matt Jones, RB, Washington Redskins
36. Josh Doctson, WR, Washington Redskins
37. Doug Martin, RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
38. Corey Coleman, WR, Cleveland Browns
39. Tyler Eifert, TE, Cincinnati Bengals
40. Zach Ertz, TE, Philadelphia Eagles
41. Tavon Austin, WR/KR, Los Angeles Rams
42. Ameer Abdullah, RB, Detroit Lions
43. Allen Hurns, WR, Jacksonville Jaguars
44. Brandin Cooks, WR, New Orleans Saints
45. Laquon Treadwell, WR, Minnesota Vikings
46. Malcolm Butler, CB, New England Patriots
47. Derrick Henry, RB, Tennessee Titans
48. Myles Jack, LB, Jacksonville Jaguars
49. DeVante Parker, WR, Miami Dolphins
50. Blaine Gabbert, QB, San Francisco 49ers
