NFL Draft expert Daniel Jeremiah, discussing his latest mock draft on his annual predraft call with the media, said he sees University of Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. being selected by the Las Vegas Raiders at No. 13. As the NFL Draft approaches next week, the question of what the Las Vegas Raiders will do in the first round is a hot topic around the league. Speaking on his annual pre-draft teleconference with media this week, draft expert Daniel Jeremiah, discussing his latest mock draft, said he sees University of Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. being selected by the Raiders at No. 13.
“Penix is my 34th player, I think, as of my last update,” Jeremiah said of his player rankings entering the draft. ” Thirteen, that feels like it’s a little rich, but I’m like, I don’t know if you told me that I’ve got to move forward and I’ve got Gardner Minshew, who I think is a quality two (backup) who can get you out of a game or two, but I don’t you want him as your starter for the long term, and Aidan O’Connell, who’s shown some good things. To me, there’s a huge talent gap there. To me, Penix has shown so much more ability.”
- Michael Penix Jr stats (career): 13,741 passing yards, 146.6 QB rating, 96-34 TD-INT, 63.3% completion rate, 8.2 yards per attempt, 265 rushing yards, 13 rushing touchdowns
Jeremiah emphasized that the quarterback is the most important position on the field. Las Vegas doesn’t have a true starter—even with Minshew and a promising young player in O’Connell., he said. The NFL Network analyst has been slotting Penix to the silver and black since March.
“Number one, the quarterback is the most important position on the team,” he continued. ” (Las Vegas has to ask) Is there an option that we’re picking that’s better than what we’re playing with? That’s why I came with the Penix thing.”
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Daniel Jeremiah gives alternate Raiders selections at No. 13
Las Vegas also has glaring needs at right tackle and outside cornerback. Many mock drafts and draftniks feel new general manager Tom Telesco will opt to take one of the draft’s top tackles, including Oregon State’s Taliese Fuaga, Penn State’s Olumuyiwa Fashanu, or a top cornerback prospect like Alabama’s Terrion Arnold.
“I think from a tackle perspective, that to me is right around the sweet spot where you’ve got Fuaga, Fautanu, and Fashanu,” he said if they don’t take a QB at No. 13. “I gave those guys the same grade. They’re 10th, 11th, and 15th on my list.”
That’s the trouble all teams face as they prepare their draft boards: addressing needs but knowing you can’t solve every roster need. While the former NFL front office executive doesn’t purport to know what the Raiders think of players like Penix or Oregon’s Bo Nix, who should be available to them in the first round, the importance of the quarterback in the NFL for teams that don’t have a clear-cut franchise starter is why he thinks Las Vegas may take Penix early.
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