ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- When Paxton Lynch came to the Denver Broncos earlier this year as a newly minted first-round draft pick and potential franchise-quarterback-in-waiting, he quickly saw how steep his learning curve was going to be.

The offense he played at Memphis bore little resemblance to what he called the phone book-sized playbook the Broncos handed him, and he was staring squarely at a from-the-ground-up task to get himself acclimated to his NFL home. The Broncos’ rookies got a head start in training camp this week before the veteran players report Wednesday, and Lynch believes he has made significant progress.

Asked Tuesday where he has made the biggest jump in the weeks and months since the draft, Lynch said:

“Just how far I’ve come mentally, I think. When I first got here and it was all thrown at me, I was having trouble getting plays called in the huddle, even doing that. Now, I’m doing a lot better with that; my footwork is where it needs to be. I still have a while to go with that, but from where I came when I first got here ‘til now, I’m very pleased with my progress. ... I’m a lot more confident in myself, knowing the plays and playing a little bit faster than when I first got here.’’

Broncos coach Gary Kubiak has repeatedly praised Lynch’s work, potential and attitude, but has also added the rookie has a “long way to go.” But Kubiak, even while he has said the competition between Mark Sanchez and Trevor Siemian was “neck-in-neck’’ when the offseason program drew to a close, has been careful not to eliminate Lynch from the conversation despite the ground the rookie has to make up in the preseason.

Lynch did not work under center at Memphis and did not call plays in a huddle, and his progressions and footwork in the Tigers’ offense were not the same as what is required in the Broncos’ offense. So it has been a square one affair for Lynch, but the Broncos see a growing comfort level and all the physical attributes, including his arm strength, that enticed the team to trade up in the first round to select him.

“I knew it was going to be tough; I knew I was going to be behind,’’ Lynch said Tuesday. “The biggest thing for me is just staying confident in myself, keeping my head up, keep pushing through and keep grinding, and it’ll come to you eventually.’’

Since the Broncos’ rookies reported Sunday night, Lynch has taken every snap in drills the last two days, since he is the only quarterback on hand. That will change Thursday when the team has its first full practice.

“From what I hear, it is the way the vets are in OTAs and what you do before camp is a little different from when they do get into camp, because it’s time to lock in and take care of your business,’’ Lynch said. “My relationship with [Sanchez and Siemian] so far has been good. They have been really helpful for me whenever I had bad practices or questions about something. They’ve always been there to help me.’’