Every year leading up to the NFL Draft, we frequently hear about a prospect who’s stock is soaring during the evaluation process. This year, the quarterback who’s stock has seemingly risen the most is Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy, who has gone from a fringe first-round QB to a prospect expected to be drafted in the top ten picks, if not higher.
But he’s not the only one.
Washington Huskies quarterback Michael Penix Jr. is also seeing his stock suddenly rise, partially thanks to a strong showing at his pro day. Not only was Penix’s trademark arm strength on full display, but the pocket passer also showed much better-than-expected athleticism.
Penix clocked a 4.51 40-yard dash, which blew past expectations for a player who’s recovered from two torn ACL injuries. That same level of explosiveness translated to his impressive vertical leap of 36 1/2 inches. While these are far from the most important factors when considering whether and where to draft a quarterback, Penix did more than just check the athleticism boxes.
According to Bleacher Report’s Jordan Schultz, one NFL coach said Michael Penix’s pro day locked him in as a first-round QB prospect.
An NFL coach just texted about Michael Penix Jr: “Freak show! Dude runs 4.5 and then jumps 37 inches. Arm strength is crazy in person. Locked in 1st rounder.” https://t.co/a8IcMSzPKr
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) March 28, 2024
It’s an interesting statement considering a large portion of the pre-draft evaluation process has focused on the top four QB prospects such as Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, Drake Maye, and J.J. McCarthy. For the most part, Penix has been forgotten.
Yet, with as many as six teams (if not more) searching for a new franchise quarterback, a prospect like Penix could easily sneak into the first round too, and he may get drafted a lot higher than some expect. Yet, as the anonymous scout who spoke to Schultz highlighted, not everyone will be taken aback if Penix attracts whichever team misses out on the core four QB prospects. Unless one of the top three teams trades down, some franchises that could fit Penix best include Denver, Las Vegas, and Minnesota.
Related: 2024 NFL mock draft: Broncos, Vikings get QBs, projecting J.J. McCarthy’s landing spot