(Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
Colin Cowherd has a surprise NFC team shaking up the 2024 NFL Draft by moving up to take Washington Huskies quarterback Michael Penix Jr.

Despite a historic final season of college football, Michael Penix Jr. is one of the more polarizing quarterbacks in this year’s draft. Nonetheless, many scouts and analysts believe he’ll be a first-round pick in the QB-heavy 2024 draft.

On the latest edition of “The Herd with Colin Cowherd” on FS1, Cowherd offered his updated 2024 NFL first-round mock draft. Interestingly, Cowherd has the Seattle Seahawks moving up into the No. 12 spot via the Denver Broncos to take Penix Jr.:
“The Seahawks offensive coordinator (Ryan Grubb) was Michael Penix’s offensive coordinator in college. Seattle doesn’t owe Geno Smith any money next year. I think he (Penix) throws the prettiest ball in the draft…You can say it’s a bit of a reach, but Seattle’s got their pieces…Seattle’s ready to win.”

Whichever team drafts Penix Jr. will probably not want to start him right away. With Smith still occupying the starting job in Seattle for at least one more year, the Seahawks could definitely draft Penix Jr. and sit him for his rookie year.

ESPN’s Mel Kiper has Michael Penix Jr. ranked as the No. 6 quarterback in this year’s class, behind Caleb Williams (USC), Jayden Daniels (LSU), Drake Maye (North Carolina), J.J. McCarthy (Michigan) and Bo Nix (Oregon).

At this time, it’s a virtual guarantee that Williams will go first overall to the Chicago Bears. Barring any surprises, the Washington Commanders (No. 2) and New England Patriots (No. 3) will take a QB with their picks.

McCarthy will most likely be one of the first four QBs taken. Scouts and analysts are largely divided on where Nix and Penix Jr. will go in the draft, but nobody should be surprised if there are as many as six QBS taken in round one.

Michael Penix Jr. Had A Phenomenal 2023 Year At Washington

Proving his stellar 2022 season with the Huskies was no fluke, Penix Jr. took it a step further by piecing together one of the greatest seasons ever for a QB in the NCAA.

The 6-foot-3, 213-pound Penix Jr. threw for 4,903 yards and 36 touchdowns in his last season of college ball. The Huskies went all the way to the National Championship Game, where they fell to Jim Harbaugh’s No. 1 ranked Michigan Wolverines.