NFL Draft Rumors: Groups Feel Michael Penix Jr. is a 1st-Round Lock amid Raiders Buzz

Or no longer it has been assumed for weeks that four quarterbacks had been assured of being selected within the first spherical of the 2024 NFL draft, however there might be rising buzz that a fifth participant ought to be added to the community.

On the Saturday morning SportsCenter (starts at 1: 50 trace), ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler said Michael Penix Jr. is a participant who “appears to be rising” up draft boards and “several teams” imagine he’ll be selected one day within the first spherical.

There has been rising hypothesis the Las Vegas Raiders veritably is a touchdown direct for Penix.

ESPN’s Matt Miller reported on Friday the Raiders “in actuality originate esteem” Penix and could well perhaps use their first win at No. 13 total to protect him.

The Raiders’ present quarterback depth chart parts Aidan O’Connell, Gardner Minshew II and Anthony Brown Jr. Head coach Antonio Pierce has spoken publicly about the must uncover a quarterback because they need anyone who can abet them support tempo since they play within the the same division as Patrick Mahomes.

For quite a bit of of the lead up to the draft, it has been assumed that Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, Drake Maye and J.J. McCarthy had been assured to be first-spherical picks. It wouldn’t even be a shock if these are the first four picks, in accordance with the needs of the head three teams (Chicago Bears, Washington Commanders and Original England Patriots) and chance of a team esteem the Raiders, Original York Giants, Minnesota Vikings or Denver Broncos shopping and selling into the head four.

If these four quarterbacks arrive off the board one day of the first five or six picks, varied teams shopping for a starting option could well perhaps need to resolve out what they need to originate.

Penix isn’t any longer with out flaws, along side an intensive wound history that functions tearing the ACL in his actual knee twice in three seasons when he played at Indiana. He’s the 89th-ranked prospect within the 2024 class by B/R’s NFL scouting division.

However all it takes is one team that saw what Penix did one day of the last two seasons at Washington and believes that will translate to the NFL for him to change into a day one win.

Penix performed within the head 10 in Heisman vote casting in every of the previous two years, along side a 2nd-space attain in 2023. He threw for 4,903 yards and 36 touchdowns to abet Washington absorb the Pac-12 title and reach the College Football Playoff Championship Game final season.