QB Michael Penix Jr. Gets It Done

I have been Washington Huskies’ quarterback (QB) Michael Penix Jr.’s biggest critic from his erratic injury-plagued days at Indiana. I crushed him on his 2021 game film, giving him an undraftable free-agent grade.

However, after studying 13 games in 2023, I am putting a first-round grade on Penix in the 2024 NFL Draft.

I can hardly believe it myself.

Penix aggressively threw his way into my heart in 2023. To cap it off, he was at the Heisman Trophy presentation with all the names of the Huskies’ players and coaches embroidered inside his jacket.

What did it for me?

It was two precision big-league throws at the end of the regular season Oregon game to win.

I also credit the influence of Jordan Reid with ESPN. In a 9/25/23 exchange on Twitter, he said to me regarding Penix, “Medicals will be a very crucial part of his evaluation, but at what point do we give him credit for staying healthy going on two years now and overcoming those injuries?”

Reid had a point.

It was impressive after a hot start in the first five games in 2023, Penix went into a mid-season slump, but he kept winning and fighting his way through it.

Penix found a way to get it done and that’s a highly desirable trait in a franchise QB.

Improvements

There are five areas Penix has steadily improved over the last three seasons:

1. Decision-making – Penix went from looking like he was guessing to knowing where he was throwing it in 2023. He got the ball out of his hand faster this season. I charted 10 bad-throwing decisions in 13 games.

2. Going through Progressions – Last season, Penix tended to lock in with receivers, but in 2023 he was scanning the field a lot more and was looking off defenders before throwing.

3. Accuracy – Penix has gone from 53.7% (2021) to 65.3% (2022) to 65.9% (2023) completion percentage.

4. Ball placement and ball security – In 9 games in 2022, I charted 32 pass breakups (3.56 avg) He cut that to 18 in 13 games (1.38 avg) in 2023.

5. Deep ball – I went from saying his deep ball left a lot to be desired to charting 19/46 attempts (41%) in 2023.

Mindset

During the Washington State televised game, reporter Allison Williams said, “It’s been remarkable watching Michael Penix during this game guys. He doesn’t change. It doesn’t matter what happened when he was off the field. His process is the same. He is completely even-keeled, steady. As he watches the game being played out from the sidelines, there’s no reaction. He is so poised. So consistent.”

Even after a bad throw, Penix didn’t seem to remember it.

Aggression wins

I love how aggressively Penix attacked secondaries.

He went for the throat.

This Washington QB had a 9.1 yards-per-completion (t-15) in 2023 (espn.com).

#9 Michael Penix Jr. 6-foot-3, 213 pounds

Daniel Kelly’s 2024 NFL Draft Grade: First-Round (I would select him)

Projected by 53.0% of the NFL Draft Community to be a first-round pick as of December 13, 2023 (nflmockdraftdatabase.com)

Former NFL Scout Warns League About QB Michael Penix Jr. (3 games evaluated in 2021)

What They’re Not Telling You About Michael Penix Jr. (5 games evaluated in 2022)

Loose Cannon: Huskies’ QB Michael Penix Jr. (4 games evaluated in 2022)

Game film reviewed (2023): Boise State, Tulsa, Michigan State, CAL, Arizona, Oregon, ASU, Stanford, USC, Utah, Oregon State, Washington State, and Oregon PAC-12 CCG (click to view games watched to form this evaluation)

Good fit: Falcons, Seahawks, Saints or Rams

NFL comp: Mark Brunell

2024 NFL Draft Scouting Report

Fearless pro-ready downfield minded instinctual touch pocket passer who makes minimal mistakes. Pocket maturity. Fits a system featuring quick decisions and an aggressive downfield attack. Fancy ball handling. Funky throwing motion. Tends to torque upper body. Batted passes at the line of scrimmage. Slings it. Big league wow throws. The ball can sail high or overthrow. Subject to drops. Good pocket mobility. Avoids sacks (15 in the last two seasons). Works whole field. Excellent back-shoulder throws. Inconsistent beating blitz. Protects body. Seven game-winning drives in the 4th quarter at Washington.

Final words

Penix looked like an NFL starter playing for the Huskies in 2023.

Daniel Kelly is a former NFL Scout with the New York Jets. He was hired on the regime which featured Bill Parcells, Bill Belichick, Scott Pioli, Mike Tannenbaum, and Dick Haley. He is currently the Editor-in-Chief for First Round Mock, contributes at Yardbarker, and has written for Sports Illustrated Lions, Jets, and 49ers, as well as a featured guest on ESPN Radio and Fox Sports Radio. For more information about him visit his website at whateverittakesbook.com. He can be followed on Twitter @firstroundmock.