Robert Griffin III is a huge fan of Michael Penix Jr. and thinks that teams should really consider picking him up in this week's 2024 NFL Draft. Griffin joined The Rich Eisen Show to discuss the Washington star's draft stock. Griffin made a bold declaration during the interview.
“You know, Rich, I've been on the Michael Penix Jr. train for three years now. I knew when he came from Indiana and went to Washington that his connection with Kalen DeBoer was going to be something that really shocked a lot of people and the offense that they were running. I had the honor to call two of his games the past two years, and I think he's the best pure passer in this draft class.”
Griffin then went on to elaborate on his assessment of Penix.
“When I watch all these guys tape, I watch every single prospect from the quarterback position, all their college games. No one throws the ball like Michael Penix Jr. He had the most decisions to make in the passing game because he threw the football the most, and he was still efficient, Rich. Having 36 touchdowns and only 9 interceptions while throwing more than any other quarterback in the country is phenomenal. Coaches recognize his field vision. I see him as having an eagle eye down the field. Beyond 15 yards, no one can match his ball placement, velocity, and intent when throwing the football, which is why receivers enjoy playing with him.”
Griffin added, “I believe that Michael Penix Jr is a top 10 pick, he should be a top 5 pick, and I hope they don't use that injury history against him. That's why he went back to Washington last year so he could prove that he could stay healthy and he did just that.”
Griffin suggested that teams such as the Vikings should retain their two first-round picks and select Michael Penix, rather than trading up for Drake Maye or J.J. McCarthy.
“We all know that Caleb Williams is going number one overall to the Bears. If Jayden Daniels doesn't go number two, say it's J.J. McCarthy or it's Drake Maye. I think a lot of those teams are going to think about, ‘Oh, we gotta move up now.' But if Jayden Daniels gets picked at two, if I'm one of those teams, I'm sitting where I'm at. Because Michael Penix Jr., imagine him on the Minnesota Vikings throwing to Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison, and TJ Hockenson, and having Aaron Jones to hand the football off to. Like, that gives you a better chance of winning. If you sit where you're at and allow him to come to you, because you're not giving up assets to have to move up and go get him.”
Penix surely had a remarkable season for Washington that drew him early MVP buzz. He finished the 2023 season throwing for 4,903 and 36 touchdowns on 65.4% completion. His play powered the Huskies to the College Football Playoffs, in which they beat Texas in the semi-final but lost to Michigan in the National Championship.
In a recent feature published by the Players Tribune, Michael Penix Jr. pitched himself to NFL General Managers. Ironically, he discussed his injury past in a way reminiscent of Griffin.
“I hear it all the time. ‘He’s been injured, what happens if he gets injured again?' Haven’t I shown you what that looks like? Haven’t I put almost 2,000 plays on tape since my last injury? Since my ‘fourth-season ending injury in 4 years' that’s constantly mentioned whenever my name is brought up? Truth is, I’d be more worried if I had never been injured. We don’t all come back the same. I can’t speak for those that have never gone through anything. But I can speak on me. I’ve seen how deep my foundation is. I know the storms I’m prepared to weather. For most people that’d be the end of their story. But there’s more to my story, and I own every page of it.
“So I have no problem taking all the MRI’s and X-rays you ask of me. Truth is, it’s an EKG that will tell you everything you need to know about me,” he added at the end of the piece.
Penix is surely one of the more talented quarterbacks available in this year's draft and it certainly will be interesting to see where he lands.