Can Michael Penix Jr. Survive without Minnesota?
Ted Schwerzler
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The Minnesota Vikings are set to grab a quarterback in the upcoming NFL Draft. If they don’t package their 11th and 23rd overall picks to move up in the first round, they’ll likely be drafting a passer from the second-tier group. If that’s Washington’s Michael Penix Jr., can he survive anywhere outside of Minnesota?
Can Michael Penix Jr. Survive without Minnesota?
At this point, it shouldn’t be a shock that agents would want their quarterbacks to land with the Vikings. It’s ideal for a rookie quarterback in that the offensive line is set, the playmaking options are plentiful, and Kevin O’Connell remains an adept playcaller.
Someone like Michael Penix Jr., a quarterback who will be taken further down the draft board, will get an opportunity to sit and develop no matter where he goes. The sooner he is thrust into game action, though, the worse off he may be. Going from the college game that saw him only shine in the late stages of his career, he may need more time to substantiate who he is as a passer.
The numbers suggest that as much also.
The Ringer’s Ben Solak took issue with just how inaccurate the former Huskies quarterback was. With a player like Rome Odunze at the college level, there is plenty of reason to believe that an elite wide receiver would help the quarterback. Penix won’t have that same luxury in multiple landing spots at the next level, but he would in Minnesota.
Justin Jefferson is the greatest wide receiver in the league at this point, and Jordan Addison has emerged as a legitimate number two. With T.J. Hockenson at tight end and Aaron Jones capable of being a receiving threat out of the backfield, Penix would have plenty of things going for him. That said, so too would any quarterback under center for O’Connell.
If Penix is truly going to struggle with ball placement and accuracy issues, the Vikings’ offensive playmakers being elite isn’t the reason to draft him and make it work.
There should be an expected learning curve for any rookie prospect, but certain skills should already be relatively refined when coming into the league. Wasting the production of all Minnesota skill position players on a quarterback who will often miss them isn’t something anyone should sign up for.
Ted Schwerzler is a blogger from the Twin Cities that is focused on all things Minnesota Twins and Minnesota Vikings. He’s active on Twitter and writes weekly for Twins Daily. As a former college athlete and avid sports fan, covering our pro teams with a passion has always seemed like such a natural outlet.
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