Penix solidifes his status as a first-round pick in 2024 NFL Draft

The Washington Huskies quarterback did everything he could to make his way into the first round conversation of April’s NFL Draft.

Washington Huskies quarterback Michael Penix Jr. has done everything in his power to make himself into a first-round pick in April’s NFL draft after overcoming tons of adversity. The runner-up for the Heisman Trophy suffered four season-ending injuries during his time at Indiana, throws left-handed, and has been dubbed a product of offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb’s system since he was able to throw to three future NFL receivers.

As Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy, the only quarterback who can claim victory over Penix last season, has made his way inside the top 10 on some draft boards, Washington’s signal caller still sits outside the first round in some mock drafts. However, his impressive performance in Indianapolis has some evaluators reconsidering his spot on their draft boards.

“The measurables were good,” ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler said on SportsCenter. “He has 10 1/2 inch hands, so a cold weather team, if you want to get your hands on Penix you can do that. He’s in a good spot for sure and we’ll see if he can sneak into the first round but certainly, he’s a player who’s trending upward right now.”

Fowler isn’t the only one voicing his support for Penix, as former USC quarterback and college football analyst Max Browne has also said the NFL needs to move Penix up draft boards.

“Why is Penix mentioned as the sixth quarterback in line?” Browne asked in a social media video. “People know he can spin it, people know he’s a pure passer, but all the buzz you hear is about J.J. McCarthy climbing up draft boards, not Penix.”

“At the very least, he should be in the mid first round conversation. If Michael Penix is still available at the end of the first round, there are going to be teams that look around and say ‘in a lesser quarterback class, he would not fall this late.’ The upside with Michael Penix could change your franchise, that’s why it’s worth it for a good team late in the first round to snag him.”

With as many as six quarterbacks projected to be taken in the first round, it’s hard to imagine a scenario where Penix falls outside the top 32 picks at this point.