Daniel Jeremiah describes how Michael Penix Jr. is being valued in NFL Draft
With so much focus on the top four quarterbacks available in the NFL Draft, former Washington star Michael Penix may be considered an afterthought. But Daniel Jeremiah views him as anything but.
Penix fans simply need to wait until the middle third of the first round for the Huskie all-star to hear his name called. The quartet of Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, Drake Maye and J.J. McCarthy will go in the top 10. Then the teams that need a quarterback, but who couldn’t trade up for one, likely will begin considering Penix and Oregon’s Bo Nix.
Jeremiah, appearing on Joel Klatt’s podcast, said Michael Penix had a “huge arm” but an unorthodox throwing style.
“He is unbelievable and it’s just a different delivery, it’s a different look,” Jeremiah said. “Because not only is he left handed, but he’s high cut, right, so he’s got long legs, short torso and he’s got a three-quarter delivery. So all those things put together, it looks different, like it takes you a while.”
Jeremiah added to that thought. “It’s like you got to get recalibrated when you’re watching him, but you can definitely see the ball jump out of his hands.”
Then Jeremiah suggested that to get a real taste of Penix’s talents, pull out the tape of Washington’s semifinal win over Texas in the College Football Playoffs. Penix, the Heisman runnerup, completed 29 of 38 passes for 430 yards and two touchdowns in the 37-31 win.
Jeremiah said the tape will make you “want to fall in love with Penix.”
Daniel Jeremiah says Michael Penix’s age ‘is good thing’
And “you watch it over and over and over again and see those throws that he made in that game and see some of the pocket movement stuff that you question,” Jeremiah said. “When you watch some of these other games, the durability, the injuries factor in 100%. The age, I don’t really worry about. I think it’s almost a good thing nowadays to have that number of starts under your belt. I love that he’s had adversity.”
Penix played six years in college. He started his career at Indiana in 2018. While with the Hoosiers, he suffered two significant knee injuries. Then he transferred to Washington and enjoyed a glorious ending to his college career. Because of his extended college career, he is considered an older rookie. He’ll turn 24 days after next month’s NFL Draft.
Jeremiah said he listed Michael Penix among his top 50 players on his overall draft board, giving him a grade of a lower first- to second-round grade. However, the draft is about need. Because so many teams are looking for quarterbacks, Penix has a chance to go far earlier. Jeremiah used his latest mock draft as an example.
“I had him going 13 to the Raiders because I’m looking at Aidan O’Connell and I’m looking at Gardner Minshew, and I’m sure you’ve probably called both of their games in college. I have the talent as a thrower between him and those two guys. It is not close.”
The Raiders drafted O’Connell in the fourth round last year. Minshew, a journeyman QB who was with Indianapolis last season, is the Raiders’ newest signee.