NFL Draft Rumors: Scouts Criticism’ of Michael Penix Jr. Revealed amid Raiders Buzz

Timothy Rapp@@TRappaRTFeatured Columnist IVMarch 31, 2024

Stacy Revere/Getty Images

Michael Penix Jr. seems to divide opinion.

It’s indisputable that he was excellent in the 2023 season, throwing for 4,903 yards, 36 touchdowns and 11 interceptions while leading Washington to the National Championship Game.

But as Jordan Reid of ESPN outlined, NFL scouts still have their concerns regarding the quarterback:

“Outside of durability, scouts wanted to see how well Penix played when defenses knocked him off his initial launch point in the pocket. We saw those issues bubble up in the title game. He can easily scan the field and make throws from a clean pocket, but there are still questions about how he handles pressure. In 15 games, Penix was hit on 21.5 percent of his dropbacks (11th-least in the nation) and sacked 11 times. But when he gets outside the pocket, he completed 38.5 percent of his throws, 114th in the country.”Penix had a prime opportunity to impress scouts at the Senior Bowl, but it ended up being a week of highs and lows—he didn’t do much to change prior opinions. Yes, the arm strength immediately stood out, but his accuracy was up and down. His pro day had an emphasis on throws on the move, as Penix continues to try to show more consistency there.”Penix, who spent six years in college, will also be 24 years old by the time the 2024 season begins. That makes him older than C.J. Stroud and Bryce Young, both rookies last season. That may not be a huge concern for NFL teams, though some executives might wonder if he’s already hit his ceiling as a player.

In a draft that appears to be strong for quarterbacks, Penix may fall out of the first round entirely. He’ll be an interesting player to monitor in the first two days at the NFL draft.