Mel Kiper Jr. projects Los Angeles Rams trade up to draft Michael Penix Jr.

Could the Los Angeles Rams make a big move a trade up in the NFL Draft to land Michael Penix Jr.? Mel Kiper Jr. of ESPN believes the Rams will do just that as they make a trade with the Los Angeles Chargers to select the former Washington Huskies QB in the second round of the draft.

“Here’s the LA Rams moving up with Jim Harbaugh and the Chargers to get Michael Penix Jr., Kiper said on the SportsCenter special that focuses on his lastes mock draft. “The heir apparent to Matthew Stafford would be Michael Penix Jr.

“Stafford can throw it all over the place, so can Michael Penix Jr. …He’s got touch, he’s got accuracy when he has time and when he has a clean pocket.” Kiper goes on to say “The offensive line’s got to get the job done. If they do, he can light you up to any point on the field.

“Michael Penix Jr. had the injuries, that’s why he drops to the second round. Didn’t play great in that national title game when he got beat up. But I think Michael Penix Jr. to move up in the second round to the LA Rams make an awful lot of sense.”

Penix is coming off a 2023 season when he led the Huskies to a national championship appearance. Along with winning the Maxwell Award, Penix was named a first-team All-American after throwing for 4,903 yards and 36 touchdowns.

The Rams trading up to get Penix would be an interesting move but would also make sense. Stafford has two more years remaing on his contract before a potential out, and drafting Penix would mean he can learn from a Super Bowl champion quarterback before taking over once he leaves.

Is Michael Penix Jr. bound for the Dallas Cowboys?

But is there a chance Penix is drafted in first round in a surprising move? In late March, ESPN NFL analyst and former New York Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum suggested the Dallas Cowboys select Penix in the first round.

“This is about taking advantage of an opportunity,” Tannenbaum said on ESPN’s Get Up. “Brett Favre was in the prime of his career when Aaron Rodgers fell, and they took him. Now, the difference with Jordan Love, they gave up a fourth-round pick and moved up… Joe Flacco was in the prime of his career, Baltimore moved up [and] look how that worked out with Lamar Jackson. That’s what great organizations do. They take advantage of opportunities and all I’m saying is I think that Dak Prescott’s better, but I’m hard-pressed to say that any of us think that he’s $52 million per year better than Penix.”