Devy Digest: Michael Penix Jr

The Devy Digest, featuring Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr.

• Michael Penix Jr.
• Position: Quarterback
  
• Washington Huskies
  
• 6’3” 213 lbs
  
• Age: 23
  
• Draft Eligible: 2022
  
• Devy Digest QB 2024 Draft Rank: 5
  

  

Who is Michael Penix Jr.?

Michael Penix was a low 3⭐️ in the composites who attended Tampa Bay Tech in Florida. He was part of the 2018 recruiting class. Penix initially committed to the University of Indiana – and during his four year stint at the university, never played an entirely healthy season; he was forced to transfer out for reasons we’ll discuss later on. MPJ chose Washington to reunite with Coach Kalen DeBoer; and Penix was an integral part in that rebuild process. It should also be noted that Penix throws left-handed.

Strengths

Even with the multiple ACL surgeries, Penix still has good mobility within the pocket to bide additional time and evade a pass rush if needed. Michael Penix shows very good arm talent. He does not have a fear of throwing it downfield when needed. People who have not watched him play, saw it against Texas in the College Football Playoffs. Penix can make all the necessary at to the next level. with the ability to get to his second and – on occasion – his third reads.

His football IQ and mental awareness as a six-year college player is his main asset. He knows defenses, their tendencies – and can exploit them. Penix has shown the ability to manipulate defenses from the pocket.

Michael Penix vs. Texas was a laser light show. Unloading javelin after javelin downfield, while showing off fantastic poise and pocket-manipulation. ELITE performance. pic.twitter.com/3wKuDymYmQ

— Frankie Abbott (@FrankiesFilm) January 4, 2024

Areas of Improvement & Concern

Michael Penix has medical concerns. There should be some worry that teams might hold it against him – and even have him off their draft boards. In 2018, as a True Freshman, Penix tore his ACL. As a Redshirt Freshman in 2019, he dislocated his SC joint on his non-throwing shoulder and missed the remainder of that season. The following year, he tore his ACL again (same knee).And finally in 2021, he had an AC separation on his throwing shoulder that caused him to miss the remainder of that season. Indiana team doctors never cleared him to return to play and Penix chose to transfer to Washington.

Penix is also an older prospect, as he will turn 24 one month after the NFL draft. If he is selected in the first round, he will be 29 at the end of his rookie contract (assuming his 5th year is picked up).

Coach Kalen DeBoer has a very quarterback-friendly system and Penix was able to thrive in it. We’ve seen multiple quarterbacks thrive in that system. You could make an argument that Penix was propped up by that system and an offensive line that kept him upright. The concepts aren’t very difficult and they ran it to perfection. What will Penix be without that system and a strong OL to help him?

Penix spent 6 years in college, so he should look good. Yet there are times where he will wait on a play instead of throwing with anticipation. Penix does have throws on tape where the ball floats on him or he simply is off-target. He has arm talent, but there are times where the ball placement gets away from him.

Michael Penix Jr. misses a big corner to the bottom. This thing just comes out a bit flat and long.
Everything but the final ball.
Tough.
🎥https://t.co/mABCFytHnX pic.twitter.com/g74sLgH45q

— The QB School (@theqbschool) May 16, 2023

Devy & C2C Value

As a Devy asset, I highly doubt Penix was more than a 4th round flier pick. I would try to flip him for a positional player with flex appeal if you can’t swing for a proven quarterback in your Devy league.

Penix was a key piece for C2C rosters, and managers should have traded him if they weren’t contending. There’s enough buzz and rumors that Penix could be a top-15 pick in the NFL draft. You could use this wave to trade for an already established QB at the next level. There could be enough buzz that you can target a top 10 quarterback and can make that deal without possibly having to throw anything else in it. You couldn’t have gotten that value six weeks ago. If you’re set at QB, I would target a flex option for the NFL side of a C2C and try to pry a top round supplemental pick for the college side to try and retain value on both sides. This isn’t a Michael Penix Jr isn’t good take, this is about enhancing value and what you can get for a player who has garnered a lot of hype as of late.

NFL Outlook

If there’s no medical concerns, there are some out there that believe Penix is a first round pick. If he ends up in a situation where he has to create on his own because he doesn’t have a strong offensive line, it could be an issue. Penix has been kept upright and given time to process at Washington. If that clock speeds up, Penix isn’t a true scrambler – and he will struggle.

I also don’t see it being a Josh Allen and Justin Fields prototype who didn’t run in college and became viable runners at the next level. While mobile in the pocket to bide additional time, Penix will be best-suited by a strong offensive line. I would like to see him go to an innovative offense that has weapons around him. One where the play calls can be diverse and protect Penix by not making him go out and have to do everything.

An ideal landing spot for Michael Penix is the Minnesota Vikings. He can sit for a couple of years and then take over when the time is right. It’s safe to say the quarterbacks Minnesota used this year once Kirk Cousins went down were not the answer. Or, if Penix were to end up in Atlanta, I wouldn’t hate that from a real-life perspective.

If you’d like to read the previous Devy Digest article featuring True Freshman wide receiver Micah Hudson, click here.

Andy Pham

Andy is the creator of the Devy Digest. His passion is devy and C2C. Andy's Devy Diguest articles provide insightful, yet thoughtful commentary to give you a leg up on the devy prospects so you know how to approach your devy and C2C drafts. With The Devy Digest podcast, Andy provides episodes of interesting and exciting topics and when he invites guests, you get to be a fly on the wall, listening in on two people having a conversation where they give you a different perspective. Come, join the journey that is Andy's Devy Digest.