The overwhelming thought is that taking Washington signal-caller Michael Penix Jr. at the Las Vegas Raiders' spot at No. 13 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft is too early, but it appears that thought process could be changing.
According to The Athletic's Vic Tafur, "the whispers are getting louder" that the Raiders could take Penix Jr. in the opening round of the draft.
"The whispers are getting louder that the Raiders just might take Washington QB Michael Penix Jr. here (at No. 13),” Tafur wrote. “Penix’s stock has risen since he had clean medicals at the NFL Scouting Combine. He has the best deep ball in the draft but, in our book, is still a bit of a project mechanically to be taken this high. It’s bad value.”
Based on what we saw of him in college, Penix Jr. has all the tools to be a successful NFL quarterback and the true difference-maker the Raiders need at the position.
But one thing that has hurt him is his injury history from his days at Indiana. However, Penix Jr. hasn't had any issues the past two seasons at Washington, and he's posted monster numbers in the process.
It would be at least mildly surprising to see Penix Jr. come off the board with the Raiders' first pick, but then again, we can never be truly shocked by anything when it comes to this franchise and the NFL draft.
