The Las Vegas Raiders, and unexpectedly, the Pittsburgh Steelers, are among five teams holding discussions with Michael Penix Jr.
The Las Vegas Raiders are among the five teams, including the Pittsburgh Steelers, anticipated to hold discussions with talented Washington Huskies quarterback Michael Penix Jr. ahead of the 2024 NFL Draft.
On Thursday, highly regarded NFL Draft prospect Michael Penix Jr. participated in Washington’s pro day to demonstrate his skills in a controlled setting and enhance his draft stock heading into next month’s event. Penix is an intriguing prospect because he could emerge as the top choice for many teams that do not possess picks within the top five.
During his showcase on Friday, ESPN reported that the QB prospect is scheduled to meet with five teams leading up to the 2024 NFL Draft, including organizations that made significant moves for quarterbacks in the offseason. These clubs consist of the New York Giants, Las Vegas Raiders, Pittsburgh Steelers, Atlanta Falcons, and Denver Broncos.
Are the Las Vegas Raiders or Pittsburgh Steelers viable options for Michael Penix Jr.? With this year’s quarterback class being robust and considerable hype surrounding the top four prospects, Penix Jr. is likely to be a fallback option for many teams later in the first round or early in the second. Despite the Las Vegas Raiders acquiring Gardner Minshew in free agency, it appears that the organization is keen on finding a potential franchise QB in this year’s NFL Draft.
Penix Jr. may be available when they are on the clock at 13, but the pressing question is whether the organization would view him as a significant reach at that stage of the draft. Similarly, for the New York Giants at six, the Atlanta Falcons at eight, and the Denver Broncos at 12. The Pittsburgh Steelers hold the 20th pick, which could be a more realistic spot to select Penix Jr. However, such a move would be surprising given that the organization recently made a blockbuster trade for Chicago Bears QB Justin Fields and signed future Hall-of-Famer Russell Wilson.
Based on recent projections, these teams might find themselves competing to acquire the Washington signal-caller early in the second round of the draft instead of utilizing their top picks.
