5 best team fits for Michael Penix Jr. in the 2024 NFL Draft

Michael Penix Jr. is coming off an unbelievable season with the Washington Huskies in which he led the team to the College Football Playoff National Championship Game and was named a finalist for the Heisman trophy after leading the nation in passing yards. If it weren't for a scary injury history (including two ACL tears), he would be a guaranteed first round pick in the upcoming NFL Draft.

Unfortunately for him, this is one the most loaded classes at the quarterback position in NFL Draft history, as at least five of them are expected to be selected in the first round and it has a chance of tying the record set by the 1983 class with six, including John Elway and Dan Marino. However, Penix came out of the Combine as one of the biggest winners, which may help him get into the first round. Rich Eisen said on The Rich Eisen Show that "nobody throws a prettier ball than Michael Penix" and compared his outing at the Combine to that of NFL Offensive Rookie of The Year CJ Stroud.

5 ideal landing spots for Michael Penix Jr in the 2024 NFL Draft

Seattle Seahawks

Why not keep him in Seattle? The Seahawks need their quarterback for the future and you could not ask for more familiarity. He's played there for the last two years, he would have the same offensive coordinator in Ryan Grubb who knows exactly how to get the most out of him and one of his best receiving weapons at Washington, Jalen McMillan, is widely being compared to Seahawks' young star Jaxon Smith-Njigba. The Seahawks have one of the best receiving corps in the NFL and he could even sit for a year behind Geno Smith. He could also compete for the starting role from day 1 with Smith and Sam Howell and, given that under Mike Macdonald the offense might mostly rely on the run game, the transition to the NFL might not be that hard for him.

Las Vegas Raiders

Michael Penix spoke with FanSided about his future in the NFL and said that all he wants is an opportunity. The Raiders seem like the team most likely to give him that opportunity as the Consensus Mock Draft currently projects him to be selected by them in the second round. According to Pro Football Focus, the Raiders had the 10th best offensive line in the NFL in 2023 and there might be no better receiver to throw to than Davante Adams. The Raiders have a big need at the position and he should immediately compete with Gardner Minshew to become the starter.

Minnesota Vikings

The Vikings are guaranteed to take a quarterback with their first pick and there is no receiver this crop of quarterbacks loves more than Justin Jefferson. While their latest trade moves indicate that they may be looking to move up and take one of the top-3 QBs in the class, Minnesota would be a great fit for Penix. With Kevin O'Connell running that offense and dynamic playmakers around him, the former Husky could quickly become a star in the NFL.

Miami Dolphins

The most common NFL comparison for Penix out there is currently Tua Tagovailoa, who is entering the fifth and final year of his rookie deal and is slated to be an unrestricted free agent after the 2024 season. The Dolphins probably have the best receiving core in the league and it could be a very smart decision for them to "reset the clock" on the quarterback pay scale rather than commit themselves to a lucrative long-term deal with a player who has an injury history as concerning as Tua's. Mike McDaniel is an offensive genius and Penix would most certainly have a lot of success in that offense, as it would be ideal for him to sit for a year behind a quarterback like Tagovailoa.

Denver Broncos

Just like the Vikings, the Broncos are definitely going to take a quarterback and the only question is wether or not #12 is too high for Michael Penix. They currently have one of the best offensive lines in the league and a good group of wide receivers headlined by Courtland Sutton, who is the most common pro comparison for Rome Odunze. Sean Payton is one of the greatest offensive minds the NFL has to offer and he could make a star out of Michael Penix. He could earn the starting position right away and seeing his deep ball fly through Mile High City's thin air would be absolutely delightful.