NFL Coach Says Michael Penix Jr. Is No. 2 QB in Draft: ‘He’s a Stud, a Born Leader’

Scott Polacek@@ScottPolacekFeatured Columnist IVApril 9, 2024

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It’s safe to say at least one offensive coach in the AFC would love to have Michael Penix Jr. on his team.

“Penix is my No. 2 guy,” the coach said of the Washington quarterback prospect, per Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated. “I love Penix. He’s a stud, a born leader, calm and collected and in a genuine way. He’s a baller. He turns it loose, can throw it into tight windows. He stands in the pocket, lets plays develop, takes hits, throws it down the field. He’s just a winner.”

He did plenty of winning in his final season with the Huskies and led them all the way to the College Football Playoff National Championship Game.

Penix was a Heisman Trophy finalist and completed 65.4 percent of his passes for 4,903 yards, 36 touchdowns and 11 interceptions, which marked his second straight year with more than 4,600 passing yards.

It is fair to be concerned about his age since he will turn 24 years old in May, as well as his injury history since he dealt with setbacks at Indiana. Still, Penix proved he was one of the best players in college football last season.

That doesn’t always translate to the next level, though, and not everyone agrees with the AFC coach’s evaluation.

In fact, B/R’s NFL Scouting Department ranked Penix as the seventh-best quarterback available in this year’s draft in its latest big board.

He will surely have the opportunity to prove himself on the field at the NFL level, and he did nothing but succeed after he transferred to Washington in the college game. In fact, he succeeded enough for one coach to rank him as the second-best quarterback in the entire draft.