With free agency about to start, the Las Vegas Raiders must soon decide whether to build around a veteran quarterback or pursue a rookie in the draft. It seems the team wants to find their future quarterback and is ready to trade a lot to make it happen.
However, it takes two to trade and there may not be another team willing to trade a top-five pick to the Raiders for one of the top prospects. If that doesn't happen, Tom Fornelli of CBS Sports suggests that the team trades for the No. 30 pick from the Baltimore Ravens to reenter the first round and pick Washington’s Michael Penix Jr.
“The Raiders didn't trade up earlier to get a quarterback, but with Michael Penix available, they make the move here,” Fornelli wrote in a mock draft dated March 8. “Penix has an excellent arm and is an interesting prospect, but by getting him in the first round, the Raiders get the fifth-year option with him.”
Penix arguably has the strongest arm of any quarterback in the draft and played six years in college, so he would likely be ready to start in Week 1.
Is Michael Penix Worth a 1st-Round Pick?
Michael Penix’s draft stock has been volatile in recent months. There was a time when it seemed he could be a top-10 pick, but a poor performance against Michigan in the National Championship game has damaged his stock.
There's also the fact that he has experienced several serious injuries in his college career, including two torn ACLs. Penix is a risky prospect due to his age and injury concerns, but as far as throwing the football goes, he's as good as anyone in the draft. He can throw the ball all over the field with exceptional accuracy.
A significant downside in his playing style is that he does not move around in the pocket much. He is not nearly as athletic as the other top quarterback prospects in this year’s draft. The NFL is favoring quarterbacks who can make plays with their feet, but that's not Penix. However, this may not matter as much if he can consistently dismantle teams from the pocket, but he likely needs to be behind a very good offensive line to reach his full potential.
Las Vegas Raiders Add Quinyon Mitchell in This Scenario
One appealing aspect of the scenario that Tom Fornelli presents is that the Raiders do not have to use their No. 13 pick on a quarterback. He has the team selecting Toledo cornerback Quinyon Mitchell.
“Depending on how the free agent QB shuffle goes, the Raiders may look to move up and get somebody in the top 10,” Fornelli wrote. “In this simulation, they grab the one player whose stock has soared throughout the entire pre-draft process.”
Cornerback is one of the team’s most pressing needs this offseason, and there aren’t great options in free agency with L’Jarius Sneed being franchise-tagged and Jaylon Johnson signing an extension. If the choice at No. 13 is not a quarterback, it's likely that the Raiders will go for a cornerback, defensive tackle, or offensive line.
