The Pittsburgh Steelers and head coach Mike Tomlin will welcome Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. for a pre-draft visit.
Three quarterbacks have already been acquired by the Pittsburgh Steelers to their roster this summer. However, it doesn’t mean the team isn’t researching quarterback prospects like Michael Penix Jr.
The quarterback for Washington, who is expected to visit five clubs before the draft, including the Steelers, disclosed this information to ESPN on March 28.
The Washington quarterback told ESPN on March 28 that he has pre-draft visits scheduled with five teams, including the Steelers.
“Penix was seen chatting with New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen,” wrote ESPN’s Brad Henderson. “Penix told ESPN that he has pre-draft visits scheduled with the Giants, Atlanta Falcons, Las Vegas Raiders, Denver Broncos and Pittsburgh Steelers beginning next week.”
It’s notable that Penix is visiting the Steelers for two reasons. First off, during the pre-draft phase, teams are limited to hosting 30 players for visits.
Consequently, it is a strong indication of interest when an NFL team hosts a player for an official 30-day visit.
It’s a little surprise that the Steelers are expressing a lot of interest in quarterback prospects given their summer additions behind center. In NFL free agency, the Steelers signed Kyle Allen and Russell Wilson. In addition, they acquired Justin Fields from the Chicago Bears and dealt Kenny Pickett to the Philadelphia Eagles.
But considering Penix’s deep-ball skills, Pittsburgh’s interest in him is a little less unexpected.
“For teams that want to chuck it down the field with a heavy dose of play action, Penix is an interesting dice roll,” wrote Bleacher Report’s Derrik Klassen. “His live arm, aggressiveness and moments of progression passing give him a shot to stick in the NFL.”
Michael Penix Jr., the quarterback, excels at Washington Pro Day
Penix, unlike the majority of the other elite quarterbacks in the 2024 draft class, isn’t a lock to go in the first round. Thus, his draft value was probably going to be greatly affected by how well he performed on Washington’s pro day.
Penix breezed through the exam that his pro day had to offer. His 40-yard sprint time of less than 4.6 seconds dispelled any lingering questions about his athletic ability.
“Penix’s speed has been something of a question mark after he ran for all of 8 yards on 35 attempts over 15 games last season,” Henderson wrote. “He ran for 92 yards in 13 games in 2022 after his first four college seasons, all at Indiana, were cut short by injuries, including a pair of torn ACLs.”
Penix demonstrated his arm strength by attempting flinging the ball around 75 yards down field on a few occasions.
It will be intriguing to observe how Penix’s performance on his pro day affects his selection position. A month or so remains until the 2024 draft, and speculation is building that quarterbacks might make history by selecting among the first four picks in the class.
It is not anticipated that Penix will rank among the top four signal callers. However, his pro day performance significantly increased his chances of being the next quarterback off the board.
Draft Issues Associated with Michael Penix Jr.
Without a doubt, Penix aided himself on his big day. However, some teams will continue to be concerned about the shortcomings he shown while in college.
Penix had two ACL tears early in his college career. He also had moments of pressure, especially in the national championship game.
“He’s a pocket passer who was ineffective in 2023 when defenses were able to crank up the heat and make him move his feet,” NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein wrote. “Playing in a shotgun-based spread attack might give him his best chance to succeed, but he needs to prove he can thrive outside of the Washington offense and stay free from injury.”
Because of his “lack of touch, shaky pocket management, and minimal ability to create plays,” Klassen claimed Penix has limited upside. Klassen had Penix rated as the No. 5 quarterback in the class, but he still considered him a third-round pick.
It’s crucial to remember that those scouting reports were completed prior to his performance on his pro day. But what Penix has already recorded cannot be altered by his display on March 28.