Former QB makes case for unlikely prospect to be 'top-three QB'

The debate is ongoing for who the first few quarterbacks off the board will be in the 2024 NFL Draft. The most popular names have been USC's Caleb Williams, UNC's Drake Maye, LSU's Jayden Daniels and Michigan's J.J. McCarthy.

However, former QB and NFL Network analyst Chase Daniel believes another quarterback deserves to be one of the first three quarterbacks selected.

"You CANT tell me Michael Penix Jr is NOT one of the Top 3 QB's in this years class if you've actually broken down his film & watched him. If you say different, you don't know ball," Daniel posted on platform X. "He's a magician out there. He put on a performance for the ages vs Texas in Sugar Bowl."

Penix Jr. is an intriguing option after throwing for 9,544 yards, 67 touchdowns and 19 interceptions from 2022-23, but to say he should go before Williams, Maye, Daniels and McCarthy is a bit of a reach.

Yes, he led the Huskies to a College Football Playoff National Championship appearance last season and has likely helped catapult Washington wide receiver Rome Odunze as a top-10 pick in this year's draft, but he still comes at more of a risk than the others.

Penix Jr. suffered several injuries to begin his collegiate career. During his time at Indiana (2018-21), he tore his ACL twice. 

He did his best to clear any doubts teams had about him at the NFL Scouting Combine earlier this offseason, but it will come down to how those interested in him feel about his medicals.

It has been difficult for most of the "experts" to predict where Penix Jr. will land as a result. He has been projected anywhere from being a top-10 pick to falling out of the first round.

Still, several quarterback-needy teams could look to add Penix Jr. before the end of the first night. But if he takes a little bit of a fall, which some believe he could, a team may just get one of the biggest steals of the draft, according to Daniel.