NFL News: Two Young Backup Quarterbacks Cut Ahead Of Week 1

There have been plenty of surprise moves leading up to the 2018 NFL season. On Sunday, a pair of relatively minor moves seemed to raise some eyebrows around the league, as the New York Giants and Denver Broncos released their young backup quarterbacks.

Despite earning a spot on the initial 53-man roster Saturday, the Broncos decided to cut Paxton Lynch. Before the move, Denver added Kevin Hogan, who had been on three teams since entering the NFL in 2016.

The Broncos traded up to pick Lynch with the No. 26 overall pick in the 2016 draft. The 24-year-old played in five total games, but with limited success. Lynch finished with a 76.7 passer rating, having completed 79 of his 128 pass attempts to go along with four touchdowns and four interceptions.

Lynch's disappointing run in Denver represents another misstep by the Broncos' front office in picking a quarterback. In 2010, the Broncos drafted Tim Tebow, only to part ways with him after the 2011 season.

Lynch fell to No. 3 on the current depth chart after battling with Brock Osweiler and Trevor Siemian in 2017. Osweiler has since moved on to be a backup with the Miami Dolphins, while Siemian will serve as a backup with the Minnesota Vikings.

Case Keenum is the Broncos starter, while Hogan will share backup duties with former seventh-round pick Chad Kelly.

The Giants have their starter in Eli Manning, but his top backup may be a little unclear after the decision to waive Davis Webb. The 2017 third-round pick didn't throw a pass last season despite the Giants benching Manning.

Many had assumed that the Giants were grooming Webb to be the successor to Manning, who turns 38 in January. But some doubts may have been raised after the 2018 draft when the Giants used a fourth-round pick on Kyle Lauletta.

However, Webb, 23, seemed to outplay Lauletta in the preseason.

The Giants reportedly sought a trade partner for the former Cal star but found no takers.

The Giants may now seem vulnerable at backup quarterback with just 22-year-old Lauletta and journeyman Alex Tanney, who has played in just one NFL game.

In a stunning development, the Giants are waiving QB Davis Webb, according to an NFL source (and as @JordanRaanan Tweeted). Giants couldn't find a trade partner, and he simply wasn't a Pat Shurmur/Dave Gettleman guy.

— Ralph Vacchiano (@RVacchianoSNY) September 2, 2018
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