The Las Vegas Raiders have the chance to walk away from the 2024 NFL Draft with their franchise quarterback of the future in tow.
After moving on from Jimmy Garoppolo earlier this offseason, and signing Gardner Minshew to a contract that will pay him $25 million over the next two years, there’s a chance the 27-year-old journeyman will be a bridge to the quarterback Las Vegas chooses as early as No. 24 overall in this month’s draft.
In CBS Sports’ latest 2024 mock draft projection, former NFL general manager Rick Spielman projects the Raiders will select University of Washington Heisman Trophy finalist Michael Penix Jr. in the first round, after trading back with the Dallas Cowboys.
“The Raiders trade down, then make Michael Penix Jr. the fifth QB off the board in Round 1,” Spielman writes for CBS. “He is the best-deep ball throwing in this year’s draft class. Very experienced, six-year player. … I have Davante Adams, and now I’ve got a quarterback that can actually get the ball 30-plus down the field to him? This was a no-brainer for me.”
Penix Jr. had the finest season of his collegiate career in 2023, leading the Huskies to a berth in the College Football Playoff and an appearance in the National Championship Game.
Last season, Penix Jr. passed for 4,903 yards with 36 touchdowns to 11 interceptions, while showing off some mobility by rushing for three touchdowns.
Michael Penix Jr. NFL Draft Scouting Report
As the Raiders look for stability at quarterback long-term, Penix Jr. could be an ideal fit, especially if he isn’t forced into action immediately.
NFL.com’s Lance Zeirlein compares Penix Jr. to Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, even if it might take some time for the University of Washington standout to reach his potential.
“Penix will be a 24-year-old rookie with a history of season-ending injuries at Indiana and impressive production while at Washington,” Zierlein writes of Penix. “The Huskies’ offensive design helped declutter coverages for Penix, allowing him to throw a higher number of intermediate and deep passes. He plays with smart pocket mobility and a willingness to get rid of the football, which makes it difficult to sack him.
“His delivery is bundled and his release point is very low, but his monster game against Texas showed flashes of impeccable touch. Penix has plenty of arm but needs to work with more consistent timing between the numbers to eliminate unnecessary contested throws.”
Through his six collegiate seasons, Penix Jr. tallied 13,741 passing yards with 96 touchdowns to 34 interceptions, and if he can put his injury woes behind him, offers some serious upside at the NFL level.
Pro Football Focus points out that Penix Jr. led the nation in deep-yards, with 1,787 in 2023, which could make him the perfect quarterback to pair with Davante Adams in the Raiders’ offense.
Las Vegas Raiders’ Antonio Pierce Weighs in On NFL Draft QB Class
It remains to be seen if the Raiders will prioritize adding a quarterback, but head coach Antonio Pierce has done extensive work on this year’s class.
“We interviewed most of those guys at the combine, had great conversations with them,” Pierce told reporters during the NFL Annual Meeting in Orlando, Fla. “J.J. McCarthy, you’re talking about a national champ, a winner. So I don’t know how he’s not in the top three, if you want to be honest. And then you look at Bo Nix, I mean, what is it, 61 career starts? Come on, man. That’s crazy. Played against Justin Herbert. So if you grab a kid like that, well, he’s done that already. That’s kind of cool. But there’s a very talented group, even Michael Penix Jr., taking his guys to the national championship with the University of Washington.
“So, to be honest, yeah, you want a certain quarterback. You got your eye on one or two or three, but I don’t think you can go wrong with this year’s draft with any of these guys now. Do they pan out? I don’t know. It’s the fit. It’s when they get brought along. It’s the system. A lot of things go into play.”
Las Vegas might not be within reach of the top three quarterbacks in this year’s class, but it’s clear the Raiders have at least considered the notion of selecting one in the first-round.
“So, to be honest, yeah, you want a certain quarterback,” Pierce says. “You got your eye on one or two or three, but I don’t think you can go wrong with this year’s draft with any of these guys now. Do they pan out? I don’t know. It’s the fit. It’s when they get brought along. It’s the system. A lot of things go into play.”
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