Michael Penix Jr. is one of two quarterbacks in this class with a lot of starting experience. While having the young, promising quarterback is great, there is something to be said about bringing someone in with more experience. Penix Jr. led one of the nation’s best offenses this season. His injury history and age are big question marks, but his talent is too much to ignore. What does he have to offer an NFL team?
NFL Draft Profile: Washington QB Michael Penix Jr.
College Career Summary
Michael Penix Jr. has been through a roller coaster of emotions during his college football career. He played for four years at Indiana before transferring to Washington. He has had many major injuries, and yet he continues to bounce back. His journey to where he is now shows the power of perseverance.
2018
As a true freshman, Michael Penix Jr. only appeared in three games. He didn’t start a game but split time with Peyton Ramsey. In a game against Penn State, Penix tore his ACL. Because it was early in the season, he was expected to make a full recovery.
2019
He won the starting job as a redshirt freshman for Indiana. In seven games, he threw for 1,394 yards, ten touchdowns, and four interceptions. The Hoosiers were 7-2 when he went down with a dislocated SC joint, the best mark the school had been at since 2007. Without him, Indiana would falter down the stretch.
2020
The COVID-19 pandemic made the 2020 season very difficult for many teams. However, for Michael Penix Jr. and Indiana, it was a little bit of a dream season. The team was able to take down both Penn State and Michigan. They were ranked as high as no. 7 in the AP Poll at one point. Penix Jr. had 1.645 passing yards and 14 touchdowns on the year. However, he retore his ACL against Maryland and missed the rest of the season.
2021
2021 ended the same way as the previous seasons. After just five games, he had a dislocated joint in his throwing shoulder and missed the entire season. Michael Penix Jr. talked about the toll this took on him.
“There were times when I’d wake up the day of the game and I’d wait until my roommate leaves, and I’d just lie on the floor, and I’d just cry to God, just praying that he’d protect me that day because I knew where my head was at at the time, and it wasn’t truly fresh.”
2022
In 2022, the college football world finally got to see a full season of Penix. Now at Washington, he threw for 4,641 yards, 31 touchdowns, and eight interceptions. The team finished 11-2, and going into the next season, the quarterback was a dark horse Heisman candidate.
2023
The 2023 season had to be satisfying for Michael Penix Jr. He threw for 4,903 yards, 36 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions. More importantly, the team was able to go undefeated in the regular season, including two wins over Oregon. After beating Texas in the College Football Playoff semi-finals, the team lost to a Michigan team full of NFL talent.
Michael Penix Jr.’s Strengths
- Strong arm. Can throw it deep with ease
- Efficiently gets through progressions and makes correct reads
- Great leader on the field
Michael Penix Jr.’s Weaknesses
- Extensive injury history
- Occasional accuracy lapses
- Left-handed QB, which some teams will find challenging
NFL Player Comparisons
- Tua Tagovailoa, with a stronger arm
- C.J. Stroud
- Jacoby Brissett
Rookie Outlook
After his performance against Texas, Michael Penix Jr. was shooting up draft boards. After struggling against Michigan, the hype train has slowed. His age and injury history will put him off of certain draft boards. However, injuries aren’t as terrible as they once were. We’ve seen many players return from serious injuries and have long NFL careers.
From an on-the-field standpoint, his deep throws outside the numbers look great, but he often doesn’t exploit the middle of the field. His accuracy lapses could lead to some trouble, especially if he is behind a weak offensive line. Where Penix could be valuable is behind a veteran team who is a quarterback away. He could slot in and bring experience while also being cheap.
Fantasy Outlook
Michael Penix Jr. is tricky from a fantasy football perspective. He isn’t guaranteed to start right away, making him worthless in one-year leagues. There is an outside chance he will win a job in training camp if he gets on a team that is shaky at the quarterback position. Let’s live in a world where he does get a starting job. What is his value?
The deep ball makes him intriguing as a fantasy football prospect. In general, he keeps turnovers down, and deep touchdown passes are big points for quarterbacks. He can also make plays with his legs, making him playable in fantasy football. Ultimately, I want to see something at the NFL level before I am willing to invest in Michael Penix Jr.
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Matt has been following sports since he was a kid. While football is his primary focus, Matt can talk about any sport anytime. He is a banker in Wisconsin and hosts two podcasts, Beers and Ears & Discontinued on Display.
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