Michael Penix Jr., QB

Height/Weight: 6-3, 218lbs

Age: 23.667

College: Washington (Transferred from Indiana) 

Senior Bowl: Yes

Shrine Bowl: No

Indiana Stats: 

Year	Completion %	Passing Yards	TD/INT
2018	21/34 (61.8%)	219	1/0
2019	110/160 (68.8%)	1,394	10/4
2020	124/220 (56.4%)	1,645	14/4
2021	87/162 (54.7)	939	4/7

Washington Stats:

Year	Completion %	Passing Yards	TD/INT
2022	362/554 (65.3%)	4,641	31/8
2023	363/555 (65.4%)	4,903	36/11

Pros: 

• Arm Strength
  Penix Jr. has one of the strongest arms in the 2024 NFL Draft class and utilizes it on throws at all three levels. Whether it's dropping the ball in the bucket to a WR down the sideline or if he's powering a throw into a tight window in the middle of the field. 
  
  
• Pocket Presence
  If a team is looking for a pocket passer, Penix Jr. will likely be high on their board. He stays poised in the pocket even once pressure comes. He would rather step up in the pocket than roll outside the tackle box.
  
  
• Short Term Memory
  Penix Jr. isn't immune to mistakes but has shown the ability to bounce back fast and not let any mistake hinder the remainder of the game. He trusts his arm and will keep slinging it even after an early intercpetion. This is a trait highly sought after by NFL teams when scouting QBs. 
  
  
• Deep Ball Accuracy
  Penix Jr. has a pretty deep ball and showcases it with throws down the sideline and the middle of the field. He trusts his offensive weapons to make plays and isn't scared to throw it up and give them a solid chance to make a play via his placement. 
  
  
• Willingness to learn/be coached
  Penix Jr. is far from a perfect prospect, as you will read some of the concerns teams will likely have on him below. But teams shouldn't have any doubt that he will be willing to work with coaches to improve his game every single day. Every year, we saw Penix take a step forward as a player in college, and his hard work and humility as a person to allow his coaches to assist him played a significant part. 

Cons: 

• Age
  Penix Jr. will turn 24 years old before his rookie season begins, which will scare some teams from investing a high selection on the QB. If a team were to take him in the first round, for example, he would be 29 years old before his second contract in the NFL. 
  
  
• Injury history
  Penix Jr. had a tough go at it to begin his college career. While he had plenty of promising moments at Indiana, each of his four seasons there ended due to significant injuries. He suffered two torn ACLs, a dislocated SC joint in his non-throwing shoulder, and a dislocated joint in his throwing shoulder, all within those four seasons at Indiana. He was finally able to stay healthy after transferring to Washington for his final two seasons, which has been huge for his draft stock. But those four injuries are still on his record, and there will be teams that don't think he's worth the risk. 
  
  
• Mechanics
  Penix Jr.'s release is much too slow for the pro level, and with the significant talent jump off the edge, this will only be more evident at the next level. Any team that drafts him will likely have to adjust his arm mechanics to speed up his release without losing any of his arm strength. This could take time, so some teams may not view him as a day-one starter option. 
  
  
• Inconsistent Accuracy 
  Penix Jr.'s college film was, at times, a roller coaster in terms of his accuracy. His two games in the college football playoff this season were great examples of this. His first-round performance against Texas was arguably the best game of his entire career, with multiple NFL-caliber throws on display. Then, he took a massive step back in the championship game against Michigan while battling multiple injuries and couldn't get into a rhythm. 

Player Evaluation:

Penix Jr. ended his college career with his best season yet, and as a result finished with the second most votes for the 2023 Heisman. His ability as a pocket passer and above-average mobility will fit perfectly in today's NFL. Him turning 24 years old before he will play a snap in the NFL, and his extensive injuries over the years would prevent me from taking him during the first round of the draft. But I believe his arm talent and overall skill set make him an intriguing prospect that QB-needy teams should target during day two of the 2024 NFL Draft. 

Player Comp:

Floor Comp: Jacoby Brissett
Penix Jr.'s floor at the pro level is a strong-armed backup who can play for a team in a pinch but falls short of having a team trust him to be their long-term starter. A player that comes to mind is NFL journeyman Jacoby Brissett. 

Ceiling Comp: More Mobile Kirk Cousins
Penix Jr.'s ceiling at the next level is a player like Kirk Cousins, who I believe is honestly underappreciated for how good he has been during his career. While Penix doesn't utilize it a ton, he has a decent amount of mobility to use when he needs to. With the right NFL coaches and talent around him, I think Penix has the talent to develop into a long-term starter. 

A to Z Big Board Rankings:

Destin Adams' Latest Big Board: 48 (QB 4)

James Foster's Latest Big Board: 40 (QB 6)