Consider Michael Penix Jr. throwing the long ball to Justin Jefferson.
Michael Penix Jr. has emerged as a hot issue for the upcoming 2024 NFL Draft, which begins on April 25 with the first round. The Heisman Trophy runner-up from last year is expected to be drafted anywhere between the first five and ten picks, or not at all in the first round. He remains one of the draft’s unsolved mysteries.
Penix did, however, help himself by attending the NFL Combine rather than skipping it like some other quarterbacks. The former Huskies quarterback demonstrated his arm talent, particularly his ability to connect on deep balls. In fact, ESPN’s Jordan Reid believes Penix may have benefited himself the most out of all the quarterbacks at the combine.
That, however, does not ensure what teams will do when the 2024 NFL Draft begins. Penix might be a surprise in any case, whether he gets selected before other wanted quarterbacks such as Drake Maye or Jayden Daniels, or if he falls out of the first round entirely.
The Minnesota Vikings should not overlook him, as Penix might be the solution to a position that currently has a big deficit. Here’s why the Vikings would be an ideal fit for Penix:
The Vikings are in need of a starting franchise quarterback
If Kirk Cousins hadn’t signed with the Vikings in 2018, the team would not have known what a franchise quarterback looked like. Sure, the Vikings have a history with Fran Tarkenton, a few strong years with Daunte Culpepper, and Brett Favre’s final season, but after that, they have a tiny history of excellent quarterback play.
Cousins, of course, has moved on to the Atlanta Falcons after the Vikings refused to negotiate a deal with the 35-year-old quarterback. That leaves Nick Mullens, Jaren Hall, and veteran Sam Darnold, whom the team signed as free agents. Darnold appears to be a fallback option if the Vikings do not locate a quarterback in this year’s draft.
Picking at No. 11, the Vikings could be on the verge of drafting one of the top quarterbacks. However, thanks to a deal with the Houston Texans, the Vikings now have two first-round picks: No. 11 and No. 23. With the possibility of acquiring Penix, that could be enough to propel one up the rankings. However, if other teams aren’t high on him, the Vikings may be able to scoop him up at No. 11 or even 23.
The Vikings have an excellent supporting cast for Michael Penix Jr.
Of all the quarterback-needy clubs, the Vikings have the best supporting cast for their future quarterback. If Penix is chosen to wear purple, he will join wide receivers Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, a first-round pick from last year, tight end TJ Hockenson, and free agent running back Aaron Jones. Penix is an excellent deep-ball thrower, but teaming him alongside Jefferson and Addison would be difficult for many teams.
Signing Penix might potentially be a two-for-one bargain for the Vikings, as they not only gain a franchise quarterback but also have Jefferson sign a new contract with the team.
Kevin O’Connell finally gets his quarterback
Kevin O’Connell, the Vikings’ head coach, is widely regarded as one of the NFL’s top offensive thinkers. With a 13-4 record in his debut season with Minnesota, he led the team to its first division title since 2017 and its first playoff appearance since 2019. Last season, however, did not go as planned, as Cousins suffered a season-ending Achilles injury. The Vikings ended 7-10 and were in postseason contention until virtually the end.
As brilliant as O’Connell is, he needs his guy now that Cousins is gone. Drafting Penix would allow O’Connell to virtually start from zero and shape his young quarterback from the beginning. If Penix has technical flaws, as some scouts claim, and his weakness is throwing below, being picked by a team with an offensive-minded coach like O’Connell is the greatest option for the young quarterback.
