Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr.’s good efficiency in opposition to the Texas Longhorns in Monday’s School Soccer Playoff semifinal sport has certainly improved his draft inventory, which might proceed to soar within the months forward.
Nonetheless, Penix should not be a prospect the New York Giants, a staff which will choose a signal-caller in April’s draft, think about spending their first-round choose on. That is to not say Penix lacks expertise, because the Heisman Trophy runner-up clearly has loads of it. In any case, he is the nation’s main passer (4,648 yards) and proved that he might dominate below the highlight within the largest sport of his profession, throwing for 430 yards and two touchdowns in Monday’s 37-31 win.
In line with Tankathon, New York is projected to select fifth within the 2024 NFL Draft and should resolve easy methods to proceed with QB Daniel Jones, who had the primary season of his four-year, $160 million extension derailed by accidents. The Giants can get off Jones’ contract after subsequent season, and contemplating the offense ran extra easily below QBs Tyrod Taylor and Tommy DeVito, maybe GM Joe Schoen will pursue one other long-term reply on the place within the draft.
Even so, if the present draft order is true, the Giants may not be capable of land both of the highest quarterback prospects, Caleb Williams of USC or North Carolina’s Drake Maye. Whereas New York might draft LSU QB Jayden Daniels, the reigning Heisman Trophy winner, or commerce down and stockpile property earlier than drafting Jones’ successor, deciding on Penix comes with appreciable danger.
The Giants are the Thirtieth-ranked offense by way of factors (14.9) and yards per sport this season (271.6), neither of which is able to seemingly drastically enhance simply by a quarterback change. The staff desperately wants a real No. 1 receiver and should do a near-complete overhaul of an offensive line that has surrendered probably the most sacks for the reason that 1986 Philadelphia Eagles (83).
Provided that Penix is a left-handed quarterback, it may be tough to tailor the offensive line to guard him subsequent season, as New York’s 2022 first-round choose Evan Neal could be his blindside protector. The precise deal with has had a disastrous begin to his professional profession, permitting 9 sacks and 69 pressures in 20 video games. But, since he was such a excessive draft choose, the Giants may not be keen to maneuver on from him so rapidly even if it might be the most effective route for the group.
Moreover, Jones’ intensive harm historical past, which incorporates two critical neck points and a torn ACL, could be a deciding issue if New York opts to draft his substitute. Due to this, it is not simple to justify swapping out an injury-prone quarterback for an additional, as Penix hasn’t precisely had a clear invoice of well being in his collegiate profession. The 23-year-old suffered three season-ending accidents in 4 years at Indiana earlier than transferring to Washington, one to every of his knees and one other to his throwing shoulder.
With one other stellar displaying within the nationwide championship and on the NFL Scouting Mix, Penix might finally solidify himself because the consensus third-ranked quarterback in April’s class. However match is simply as, if no more, vital than expertise when drafting, and he does not appear to be a super match for the Giants.