Overview

Position: QB

College: Washington

Class: Senior (RS)

Age: 23

Measurables

Height: 6’2 1/4”

Weight: 216 lbs.

Arm length: 33 5/8″

Hand size: 10 1/2″

Athletic testing

40-yard dash: N/A

10-yard split: N/A

Vertical jump: N/A

Broad jump: N/A

Bench press: N/A

3-cone drill: N/A

Short shuttle: N/A

Strengths

Major arm talent to sling the ball around. Elite natural accuracy and pinpoint precision with everything in sync. Tremendous arm strength and velocity. Huge hands for a quarterback. Release is lightning quick. Seemingly every pass is a perfect spiral. Excellent overall ball placement. Doesn’t loft passes but shows an ability to add touch and take heat off. Very willing to throw the ball deep outside the numbers. Consistently leads receivers over the outside shoulder on downfield passes. Recognizes how coverage is playing on the backend and will take advantage by uncorking it deep. Outstanding throwing to a spot on downfield passes. Sees deep crossing routes early and looks to hit them. Will work through all his progressions and get to his checkdown. Terrific on comebacks and deep out routes. Throws receivers to the sideline on stop routes when defenders have inside leverage. Very confident and gives targets a chance to win in one-on-one coverage on the perimeter. Great timing/accuracy on jump balls and back-shoulder throws. Quick trigger with ideal ball placement on underneath throws. Accurate on in-breaking routes. Fantastic accuracy on wheel routes and trail routes. Will slide and keep a balanced base to create a cleaner path for a throw. Can look off defenders before hitting his preferred target. Good accuracy outside the pocket when given space. Impressive ball handling with some deception. Used on some designed runs and was a big-time rushing threat early in his career.

Weaknesses

Major durability concerns with two torn ACLs and two season-ending shoulder injuries. Playmaking ability is a question mark after injuries. Release is low and could result in batted passes at the line of scrimmage. Gunslinger mechanics can be tightened up. Front shoulder and foot fly open at times. Sometimes has a hitch and will double or triple clutch. Doesn’t see the field as well over the middle. Would like to see more consistency attacking between the numbers. Needs to see things a little quicker at times and not rely on rocket arm. Can hit guys more as they come out of breaks. Fails to see open targets on drag routes. Will make poor decisions when pressured. Mechanics and accuracy fall off when pressured. Unnecessarily fades away and turns his back on some throws.

NFL comparison

Jameis Winston

Conclusion

Overall, Penix is an extremely talented passer with tremendous accuracy and the precision of an archer on downfield throws. His arm talent hides some flaws, but if not for his injury history, Penix would have a very good case to be a top-ten pick.

2024 NFL Draft Scouting Report: QB Michael Penix Jr.