Penix Drew Combine Raves, But Still Couldn't Sway Every Analyst
In this story:
Nearly everyone came away from Indianapolis raving about Michael Penix Jr. and his NFL quarterback possibilities.
Yet on Monday, you open up up the first three mock drafts that appear on social media, including one from highly respected Pro Football Focus, and Penix is nowhere to be found.
Is it stubbornness, ignorance or do these pro football analysts simply know something that no one else does?
Regardless, the great mystery surrounding Penix and his coming draft pick likely will last until commissioner Roger Goodell on the first day or someone else on the second day calls out the former University of Washington quarterback's name in late April.
Rich Eisen, the former ESPN anchor, current national radio host and annual NFL Scouting Combine broadcaster, appropriately summed up the Penix situation when he said the following, "His draft night is going to be fascinating."
Eisen, while a regular combine observer but granted not a paid scout, couldn't contain his amazement after seeing Penix up close in Indianapolis, mentioning that he was mesmerized.
"Nobody throws a prettier ball than Penix," he said. "That's Penix. He's got every throw in the bag. NFL Films will love Michael Penix Jr. The zoom and the spin."
The injury rap on Penix has become a tired excuse because he just played 28 games for the Huskies, with a better line than he had at Indiana, and had no obvious issues. He showed up and finished every game, winning 25 of them.
He's 24. He has huge 10-inch hands. He led the nation in passing twice. And, when you watch him up close in practice, or at a combine, he has an absolute cannon for an arm that can be disarming when you see it for the first time. It's possible no one who's come through Montlake has thrown it any harder.
What's left is to see if any NFL organization secretly is sold on Penix as its quarterback of the future — hey, the Denver Broncos suddenly need one — and will keep everyone guessing up until the time he gets picked and take him as a first-rounder.
Still, it's not clear why Penix, more than any other big-name quarterback out there, seems to be such a dilemma for people.
Go to si.com/college/washington to read the latest Inside the Huskies stories.
Follow Dan Raley of Inside the Huskies on X — @DanRaley1 or @UWFanNation.
Find Inside the Huskies on Facebook — at Inside the Huskies/FanNation at SI.com or https://www.facebook.com/dan.raley.12
