Michael Penix, Jr. vs. Joe Milton III: Identifying Broncos' Best QB Fit.

The Broncos could be looking for interior depth on the offensive line, and these two options could be available.

Jan 8, 2024; Houston, TX, USA; Washington Huskies quarterback Michael Penix Jr. (9) throws a pass / Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

The Denver Broncos are looking for a quarterback, and ther eis no doubt about it. They have been well represented at every Pro Day with a quarterback, have done private workouts with some, and are expected to keep that up.

Everyone knows the Broncos are hunting for a quarterback. That is one of the worst kept secrets and has been since they parted with Russell Wilson. The question that everyone has is, which quarterback?

The current expectation is that four quarterbacks will go in the first six picks, and the next group has been mentioned as high as first-round picks to as low as round-three picks. As we look at every quarterback, the next two are Washington's Michael Penix, Jr. and Tennessee's Joe Milton III.

Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. looks to pass against Michigan during the first half of the / Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK

Michael Penix | Washington

• Height: 6-foot-2
• Weight: 216 pounds
• Arm Length: 33-5/8 inches
• Hands: 10-1/2 inches
• Relative Athletic Score: N/A

Pros

Penix has one of the better arms in the class, and is able to make the tougher throws with good consistency. There isn't much effort for him to launch the ball, and it looks light leaving his hands and arrives with good veloicity to his target.

For as strong of an arm as he has, Penix shows good understanding of touch. He knows he can't force every throw in there, but when needed, he can uncork it.

It is hard to get the ball knocked out of his hands, as he has large hands and a strong grip to maintain control of the ball. He also shows good pre-snap reads and does well keying in on pressure packages.

The upper body mechanics are clean and consistent, and Penix is quick in his transition into his throwing motion from his drop back. There are flashes of good movement in the pocket, and a quick reset to set his feet and get into his throwing motion.

Penix can thrive in an offense that keeps him in shotgun and spreads out the passing attack. He is quick to move from one target to the next and does well reading coverages and finding the best option target.

Cons

The biggest concerns about Penix are the injuries he has dealt with, including two torn ACLs in his right knee and multiple shoulder injuries. On top of the medicals, it isn't ideal to be a 24-year-old rookie, especially at quarterback. The knee injuries lead to concerns about his movement skills in and out of the pocket.

On the field, Penix has issues attacking the middle of field. There were open shots in the middle, and Penix would, at times, take a more difficult throw on the boundary. He also has issues maneuvering the pocket, which looked improved against Texas, but that was an exception game compared to the norm.

His placement is off, and while he has a strong arm, there are too many instances of his receivers hitting the brakes for his passes. Part of the placement issues stem from improper footwork during his wind-up and release. So those mechanical issues will need to be improved to cut back on the placement issues.

When things get out of rhythm, or is he forced out of the pocket, the placement drops even more. Penix also has many instances of trying to force throws, instead of leaving the pocket when there is an opening and pressure is coming.

Penix had elite talent around him and blocking for him, which helped cover some of the issues. There is a question as to how much he elevated those around him, compared to them elevating him. His play took a massive hit to close the 2023 season.

Fit With Broncos

The concerns about Penix working the middle of field does hurt his fit with the Broncos. With Sean Payton's Gulf Coast variation offense, the middle of the field is the focus point. That can be coached up, but does add a lot more projection from Penix than what we have seen during his collegiate career.

Big Board Position: No. 97 overall.

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Tennessee quarterback Joe Milton III (7) throws the ball during the NCAA college football game / Angelina Alcantar/News Sentinel / USA

Joe Milton III | Tennessee

• Height: 6-foot-5
• Weight: 235 pounds
• Arm Length: 33-3/8 inches
• Hands: 10-1/4 inches
• Relative Athletic Score: N/A

Pros

The arm talent of Milton is among the best over the past few years. He has a natural deep ball, and can easily put throws through tight windows. The amount of heat he can put on his passes can make securing interceptions a little more difficult.

Milton has a great frame and an excellent build. He can take hits in and out of the pocket without concerns about his body lasting. The toughness is also there to stand in the pocket and take a hit in order to deliver the throw.

When the play goes off script, Milton does a good job of keeping his eyes downfield. He isn't quick to drop his eyes and look to run. Mantaining that proper balance makes it harder for defenders to key in on him as a runner outside of the pocklet.

With his size, build, and strength, Milton is tough to bring down as a runner and in the pocket. He can muscle his way through good tackle attempts, and poor attempts are a waste of time.

Cons

Milton is as raw as they come as a quarterback prospect, which is a concern with six years in college. The imporvmeents he has made on tape are minimal, leaving a question as to if things will ever fully click for him.

The arm is excellent, but the mechanics are a mess and his placement is all over the place. There is no consistency to any aspect of his game, and NFL teams would need to have an extreme adjustment to their offense for Milton.

It is almost impossible to get Milton into a rhythm because he lacks the timing and placement needed to build up a rhythm at the position. The throwing mechanics are televised, and he televises his plans by staring down his target almost from the snap, leading to easy rotations from defensive backs.

There are issues with his ability to read defenses pre-snap and post-snap. The offense he works in would need to make it all easier on the quarterback and not be overly difficult or complicated.

Fit With Broncos

Milton needs a lot of work, and it may be more than the Broncos are willing to take on. Not only that, the offense they run isn't a fit with Milton, and it has been made clear that they don't want to make significant changes to the offense for the quarterback, and rather find a quarterback that can fit the scheme.

Big Board Position: No. 66 overall.

Better Fit for Broncos

Both of these quarterbacks are poor fits for the Broncos. There would need to be significant changes to the offense to make them work, and in the case of Milton, he would need a lot of time and development, which the Broncos are not in a position to do.

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