Penix Plausible for Vikings Draft Strategy

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The Minnesota Vikings have added additional draft capital through a trade with the Houston Texans, but if they’re looking for quality and quantity, Michael Penix is a plausible prospect for them.

Penix Plausible for Vikings Draft Strategy

Multiple sportsbooks continue to tab the Minnesota Vikings as a potential landing spot for the former Washington Huskies signal caller. Michael Penix went from wearing red with Indiana to donning purple at Washington. It would be a natural transition in uniform color, but if Minnesota makes that selection, it certainly shouldn’t happen with the 11th overall pick.

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Conventional wisdom suggests that Kwesi Adofo-Mensah is in the business of trading up. Utilizing both the 11th and 23rd overall pick, along with 2025 options, Minnesota could find themselves in a spot to draft Drake Maye or J.J. McCarthy. If Penix winds up being the preferred option, trading could still happen, but it would come in the form of moving back.

Beyond the top three prospects, the only other quality first-round prospects include McCarthy and Oregon’s Bo Nix. Penix rates closer to a second-round pick, and there is no reason that Minnesota should need to grab him anywhere before their 23rd-overall pick. With no selections in the second or third round, the Vikings could parlay one of their first-round selections into a haul that lets them grab Penix and stockpile some resources.

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The Washington quarterback would be a departure from what Minnesota has previously employed. He has the ability to scramble, and while his injury history is not ideal, he led the Huskies to heights they have not seen in recent memory. His arm is talented, and while he won’t grade out anywhere near Caleb Williams, there is clearly a worthy professional prospect here.

Drafting Penix would almost guarantee that Sam Darnold starts every game for Minnesota in 2024. He is a developmental prospect who needs time to marinate, and even if the veteran playing well in front of him doesn’t happen, Kevin O’Connell would be wise to sit on his new egg for an extended amount of time.

Vikings Rookie QB
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The talk continues to be about Maye and McCarthy, but the M&M boys may have misplaced their initial order. Michael might be worth considering for Minnesota, after all.

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.