The 2024 NFL Draft is around the corner, and fans across the country are anxious for their favorite franchise’s draft haul this April. Using the Pro Football Network Mock Draft Simulator, it appears one specific fan base has sweetened on the promise of a bright future with a new signal-caller in the fold.
That franchise is the Minnesota Vikings. And that signal-caller is Washington QB Michael Penix Jr.
NFL Draft Predictions: Vikings To Draft Michael Penix Jr.?
The 2024 NFL Draft has largely been dominated around talk at the top of the class, specifically the top two quarterbacks on the board: Caleb Williams and Drake Maye.
After the success seen from the 2023 college football season, Penix’s stock has risen enough to potentially challenge the top of the class himself. Currently, Vikings users on the free PFN Mock Draft Simulator have not only sweetened on Penix but are drafting him more than any other player.
Vikings fans are so sold on Penix that they’re selecting him enough with the No. 12 overall pick that it has driven up his average draft position well into the first-round discussion.
Quarterbacks dominate the selections from Minnesota fans, and Penix is on top of their list. Here’s how the Vikings’ most-drafted players broke out from the past seven days on the PFN Mock Draft Simulator:
1) Michael Penix Jr., QB, Washington
2) Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU
3) T’Vondre Sweat, DT, Texas
4) J.J. McCarthy, QB, Michigan
5) Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB, Alabama
6) Jer’Zhan Newton, DT, Illinois
7) Bo Nix, QB, Oregon
8) Blake Corum, RB, Michigan
9) JT Tuimoloau, DT, Ohio State
10) Leonard Taylor III, DT, Miami (FL)
What Does Penix Potentially Bring to Minnesota?
The potential for high-level play certainly must be exciting for Vikings fans because that’s what Penix offers.
At his best, Penix can accurately drop his throws in any window and at any level of the field. He was one of the most accurate deep-ball throwers over the past two seasons and never shied away from testing the deep waters.
This, of course, came when he was kept clean from pressure in the pocket, but Penix is certainly not a purely pocket passer. He can break out of pressure if necessary and can make things happen with his legs and vision that he maintains downfield.
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He’ll not look to scramble unless absolutely necessary and allows the structure of the offense and the route progression to work itself out all the same.
Sure, some injury concerns and lack of top-end physical traits haunt his background, but after a full 15-game slate this past season, those concerns continue to look more like a one-off situation.
All the 2024 NFL Draft resources you need — the draft order, the top QBs, the Top 100 prospects, and the full 2024 Big Board — right at your fingertips at Pro Football Network!