Throughout the last week or so, betting odds have linked the Las Vegas Raiders with Washington Huskies quarterback Michael Penix Jr. as a potential marriage in the 2024 NFL Draft, which gets underway next Thursday night.
For a piece published Friday, ESPN NFL Draft analyst Matt Miller insisted that the Raiders “really do like” Penix and could strongly consider drafting him with the 13th overall pick.
“That would qualify as a surprise, despite the fact that Penix is a beautiful thrower from the pocket and has the best overall arm strength in this class,” Miller explained.
It’s repeatedly been mentioned that a team such as the Raiders, New York Giants or Los Angeles Rams could complete a during-the-draft trade with Penix in mind. However, his draft stock remains a moving target due to the fact that he tore his right anterior cruciate ligament twice and suffered injuries to both shoulders during his college career.
“He is ranked No. 40 on my board and is generally seen as a day two prospect, but the buzz here is starting to heat up connecting the Raiders to him in round one,” Miller added about Penix.
The Raiders currently are on track to have 2023 fourth-round draft choice Aidan O’Connell compete with veteran Gardner Minshew for their starting quarterback job this summer. Assuming Miller and others are right about how at least some teams view Penix, the Raiders presumably could consider trading down in the first round of the draft knowing they could still land the signal-caller before a club spends overall pick No. 32.
In mock drafts updated this week, Ryan Wilson and Chris Trapasso of CBS Sports both predicted that the Raiders will take Penix with the 13th overall pick. None of the other four featured CBS Sports personalities had Penix as a first-round selection as of this past Wednesday.
At this publishing early on Friday afternoon, DraftKings Sportsbook has the Raiders as the betting favorites at +260 odds to select Penix. A Minnesota Vikings team in need of a quarterback that holds the draft’s 11th overall choice was second on the DraftKings list at +350 odds as it pertains to the drafting of Penix.