The Sam Howell trade put a real damper on all the Michael Penix Jr. to Seahawks speculation. However, it would be foolish to completely rule out the possibility that he’s their No. 1 target in the upcoming 2024 NFL draft. While the team does have major needs along the interior offensive line, the overall state of their roster is strong. The very fact that guard is their No. 1 and No. 2 positional needs suggests that this team can be far more competitive than it has been the last couple years with the right coaching.
Regardless of how you feel about any QB in this class – Penix included – the fact is that drafting a potential long-term starter at that spot is the team’s best possible use of capital, even if they have to pick a fan out of the stands to play a few snaps at left guard.
Some folks are not abandoning the Penix/Seattle connection, either. In a new 024 mock draft at NFL.com, Charles Davis has Penix going to Seattle at No. 16 overall.
“Surprise! GM John Schneider should have no trouble doing his homework on the big-armed QB who starred just down the road in Seattle for the past two seasons. Penix reunites with former UW OC Ryan Grubb, who now holds the same title with the Seahawks.”
If the Seahawks are indeed sold on Penix’s potential to be their next franchise QB, they will probably need to use that 16 pick on him. Before Penix lit up the Scouting Combine and put on another show at Washington’s Pro Day, there was a chance he might slip to early in the second round or late in the first. Now that seems highly unlikely – especially given the enormous gulf between Penix (generally ranked QB6 in this class) and the next-best quarterback prospect in the draft.
The x-factor here is how dumb the QB-needy teams are that are scheduled to pick ahead of the Seahawks. We can safely assume that Caleb Williams, Drake Maye and Jayden Daniels will all be taken in the top five picks. From there it gets interesting. Michigan’s JJ McCarthy and Oregon’s Bo Nix are almost universally mocked ahead of Penix, despite clearly being inferior quarterbacks both statistically and on tape.
If the Raiders or the Vikings see that and intend take Penix over McCarthy/Nix then Seattle’s chances of landing him are nil as they would have it trade up from 16 to do it. The Seahawks simply don’t have the capital to pull that deal off – nor should they even if they did. If you’re on that train, hope that Minnesota and Vegas don’t know what they’re doing.
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