Michael Penix Jr. may be the most polarizing quarterback likely to be drafted this year.
Yes, he can pitch with pinpoint timing. Yes, he has a track record of success in the Big Ten dating back to Indiana University. And, as he proved during Senior Bowl week, his football intelligence is impressive.
But he also has the longest injury record of any quarterback likely to be taken in this year's NFL Draft.
And while his performance under pressure in Washington's National Championship Game loss to Michigan last month was just one game, Penix hasn't featured in many first-round mock drafts in recent weeks. This clarifies some of the reasons why. As NFL on Fox and DenverSports.com analyst Mark Schlares points out, the NFL combine in Indianapolis is coming up next week.
Yes, Penix is the “perfect guy” for Sean Payton in the eyes of some experts, including Fox Sports college football analyst Joel Klatt, who briefly played for Payton in New Orleans 18 years ago. “is applicable.”
.@NFLonFOX's @markschlereth I believe part of Michael Penix Jr.'s job, as he said, was to shred a bad Pac-12 defense. @MikeEvans1043 upon @DenverSportsCom:
“I downgrade the Pac-12's defense. I think it's terrible. … There's a lot of stuff that's not transferable.” pic.twitter.com/cweKv2ffcw
— Andrew Mason (@MaseDenver) February 20, 2024
But Schlereth sees something different.
Will Michael Penix Jr. compete in the contest? Are you facing PAC-12 issues?
In Schlereth's estimation, that's true.
“Kids from small schools, what do you always hear about them? 'Well, he didn't play against NFL-level opponents. He played at a small school. It's an automatic downgrade. grade,” Schlereth said.
He noted that the same principle should apply to quarterbacks in the Pac-12, which will be disbanded in a viable state after this school year. Only Oregon and Washington State remain, effectively farming out to other conferences.
“Dude, I'm going to downgrade the Pac-12 defense. I think they're terrible. I think in that conference, the way they played on the offensive side of the ball – the ball was all spread out, that's all. It was, “Let's throw the ball into an empty (backfield formation) ballpark” – those things, just find my best one, “One-on-one with your third corner, who can't play.” , let's throw it to that guy who's never going to smell the NFL.'' – There are a lot of things you can't transfer. ” Schlereth said..
Of course, USC's Caleb Williams is widely considered to be the No. 1 overall pick, and he also enrolled in the Pac-12.
But as for Penix, Schlereth believes the national championship game against a Michigan defense with NFL-level prospects is bright.
“I'll tell you, if I were in the front office, I think there would be a lot of things to worry about. Yes, one game. We took a hard look at one game. I thought he was terrible because it was a national championship game against a team that I think had a lot of.'' Schlereth said.
Another notable thing about Penix is his unconventional delivery.
“The angle of that arm is three-quarters of an arm,” Schlereth said. “He's going to get hit with all kinds of balls (at the line of scrimmage) in the National Football League.
“I haven't seen a lot of throws in the NFL that make him a transferable big man.”
