Mel Kiper explains why he left Michael Penix Jr. out of 1st round mock draft

ESPN‘s Mel Kiper recently unveiled his post-free agency 2024 NFL mock draft, featuring five quarterbacks selected within the first 12 picks. Washington’s Michael Penix Jr. wasn’t one of those quarterbacks.

Kiper left Penix entirely out of his first-round mock draft, which Kiper said came down to two things: Durability concerns and his ability to throw off platform.

“Michael Penix Jr., the big thing is the injuries,” Kiper said, via ESPN Front Row. “I think that’s the main thing — the injuries, you think about the shoulder, the knee. Bottom line is, if he can stay healthy, he can spin it. He can make throws at every point on the field, off platform he’s not as effective as some of these other quarterbacks [so] you gotta protect him. You gotta have a really good offensive line there because of the durability question [and] the injuries at Indiana.

“Now, he was outstanding at Washington, but you gotta give him a clean pocket. When he’s off platform, and you get around him, you saw that in the National Title Game, his accuracy wanes a little bit. He needs talent around him, he had it at Washington. Obviously in the National Title Game they were able to get some heat on him, the off platform’s not his game. So, I think when you look at Michael Penix Jr., you need to help him, he needs to be in the right situation, but when he gets time, he can spin it, he’s accurate at every level.”

Opinions split on Michael Penix Jr. ahead of 2024 NFL Draft

Penix, 23, is coming off an outstanding season with the Huskies, in which he finished second in Heisman Trophy voting. He threw for 4,903 yards, 36 touchdowns and 11 interceptions on 65.4% passing. Penix led Washington to an undefeated regular season and Pac-12 championship, and helped the Huskies defeat Texas, 37-31, in the College Football Playoff Semifinal. Washington failed to win the College Football Playoff National Championship Game, falling to Michigan, 34-13.

As Kiper mentioned, Penix dealt with injuries during his time at Indiana before transferring to Washington ahead of the 2022 season. Penix tore his ACL in 2018 and again in 2020.

While Kiper doesn’t see first-round pick in Penix, FS1‘s Joel Klatt feels quite differently. Klatt revealed his post-free agency 2024 NFL mock draft earlier this week and had Penix going No. 21 to the Miami Dolphins.

“This is not an indictment on Tua [Tagovailoa] in the NFL as much as it is fit,” Klatt said. “When you watch Miami and what they really do, what they need is a guy that throws on time with great leverage and accuracy down the field. There just so happens to be a guy that that is his best attribute sitting there available, and that’s Michael Penix. I still want to see Michael Penix with Mike McDaniel’s offense and Tyreek Hill.”