There has been a lot of speculation and rumors about the Las Vegas Raiders possibly taking Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. at No. 13 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft, and one ESPN draft analyst is adding to that idea.
ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. believes that Penix Jr. will not make it past the Raiders at No. 13 overall, noting that there are several teams picking in the teens that are interested in him.
Michael Penix Jr. won't fall past No. 13: The Washington quarterback is liked by several teams with picks in the teens, but I don't think he'll last past the Raiders at No. 13. That's a little rich for my tastes -- he finished No. 24 on my Big Board -- but there are several teams looking for their quarterback of the future in this class, and his accuracy, experience and moxie make him appealing.
The Raiders taking Penix Jr. at No. 13 overall has gained steam in recent weeks, with multiple reports suggesting that Las Vegas may jump on the Washington signal-caller with their first-round pick. Kiper Jr. is just the latest to state that belief.
More: Raiders NFL Draft rumors tracker
The expectation for much of the pre-draft process has been that he would last beyond the Raiders' first-round pick, with some analysts believing Penix Jr. could last until the early second round.
It appears Las Vegas fans need to be prepared for the possibility that Penix Jr. is the Raiders' first pick when they're on the clock on Thursday night.
