Hasselbeck: ‘More comfortable’ with Siemian as Broncos starting QB

With all things considered, ESPN NFL analyst Tim Hasselbeck believes a healthy Tony Romo is a better option at quarterback than anyone else on the Denver Broncos roster and would be in on the market for the Dallas Cowboys backup.

But, Hasselbeck told 104.3 The Fan’s “Schlereth and Evans” on Thursday, first-year starter Trevor Siemian played “pretty well,” so much that the former NFL quarterback would trust him over 2016 first-round draft pick Paxton Lynch.

“It’s not like the season was perfect. But remember, this was his first year as a starter as well,” Hasselbeck said. “I’m just telling you, right now for me, I would feel more confident in Trevor Siemian as the starter next year in terms of playing winning football than I would Paxton Lynch.”

Even though Lynch saw the field much less than Siemian last year, Hasselbeck said that the second-year pro’s play was “far superior” and the competition wasn’t “really close at all.”

In 14 starts in 2016, the first of his career, Siemian threw for 18 touchdowns with 10 interceptions, averaging 226.7 yards per game, earning a quarterback rating of 84.6, and completing 59.5 percent of his passes.

Lynch, in three games that included two starts in relief of an injured Siemian, threw for 2 touchdowns and one pick, averaging 165.7 yards per game, earning a 79.2 quarterback rating, and completing 59.0 percent of his passes.

Hasselbeck said he thought Lynch would a “major project” coming out of college at Memphis, that though he was often times the best athlete on the field he was not a “developed passer.”

“I thought there was a long windup, he didn’t really see things all that well, and often times it was just, ‘Hey, I’m picking to work this side, and I’m going to look and see if that guy’s open or that guy’s open. If he’s not, I’m going to take off and run,’” Hasselbeck said.

“And so I think there needs to be a lot of development as a passer for him.”

Hasselbeck also said he realizes there’s flaws in Siemian’s game also — like his ability to stay healthy — and that he and everyone “probably sees a ceiling for him” based on his physical tools.

He also cautioned against Romo’s ability to stay health, should the Broncos pursue the veteran quarterback, but that if Dallas were to absorb some of the quarterback’s contract it would “make sense for pretty much anybody that isn’t thrilled with their quarterback play” to be thinking about a deal.

Follow digital content producer Johnny Hart on Twitter: @JohnnyHart7.