2024 NFL Mock Draft: Rams pick quarterback

Michael Penix Jr., QB, Washington

THE OPPORTUNITY

One of many rarest sights in trendy NFL historical past is seeing the “Los Angeles Rams on the clock” on night time one of many NFL draft. This seems to be to be the primary time the Rams may make a primary spherical choose since 2016, and the primary of the Sean McVay period. It’s unusual to think about that McVay’s completed two Tremendous Bowl appearances, successful one, with offseason retirement rumors swirling lately… all with out drafting a primary rounder. With this in thoughts, I couldn’t assist myself when the uncommon alternative to draft for them took place.

THE TEAM

Since his hiring in 2012, Rams GM Les Snead has put himself within the dialog of one of many prime GMs within the league. Star energy and aggression rule the Snead draft choose philosophy. His most “latest” first spherical picks embody Aaron Donald, Todd Gurley, and Jared Goff, whom the Rams traded a 2017 choose to maneuver up with the Titans to pick. Since then they’ve traded away firsts for Brandin Cooks, Jalen Ramsey and Matthew Stafford, every contributing to a Tremendous Bowl look.

The temptation to make a splash in mild of this and choose Xavier Worthy right here is actual. The Rams ought to take into consideration life after Cooper Kupp who turns 31 in June, and the blazing Worthy may actually take their offense to a different degree. Nevertheless, the Rams have confirmed themselves to be nice at choosing star receivers in later rounds—Kupp in spherical 3 and Puka Nacua in spherical 5, as examples. This seems to be to be a deep WR draft as nicely. Matthew Stafford is 36, and QB is way tougher to switch. We should capitalize on this uncommon alternative.

THE PLAYER

QB Michel Penix Jr. is the right prospect to take a seat behind Stafford for a 12 months or two. He was a 6 12 months faculty starter, who performed at Indiana (2018-2021) and Washington (2022-2023) Regardless of 6 faculty seasons, Penix continues to be solely 23. He’s sneaky athletic, measuring at 6’2”, 216 lbs, and working a 4.58 at his Professional Day. You wouldn’t comprehend it although primarily based on his dashing manufacturing, scrambling solely 10 instances his senior 12 months in 14 video games. He was really sacked extra instances (12) than he scrambled. Penix is a pure pocket passer, a southpaw, throwing 88% of his passes from inside the pocket.

A TALE OF TWO TEAMS

Penix is a little bit of a polarizing prospect, largely on account of his 4 years at Indiana, the place had two ACL tears in his proper knee (2018 and 2020), and accidents to his non-throwing and throwing shoulders (2019 and 2021 respectively), leading to early endings to all 4 seasons at Indiana.

He completed his Hoosier profession 342-of-576 (59.4%) with 29 touchdowns, 15 interceptions, and 5 300-yard video games. He rushed for 165 yards on 64 makes an attempt with six scores.

However it’s his two years of enjoying for Washington the place his potential actually shined. He was very constant, posting practically an identical statistical seasons, ending his Huskie profession 725-1109 (65.4%) with 67 touchdowns and 19 interceptions. He rushed for 100 yards on 70 makes an attempt with seven scores. In 2023, Penix completed second in Heisman voting, main the Huskies to the CFB Championship recreation.

STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES

The largest gaps in his recreation are his footwork, throwing mechanics and inconsistent reads, however he’s proven mechanical enchancment within the pre-draft analysis course of. As acknowledged, a 12 months or two behind Stafford would do him nicely in all sides of his recreation to additional enhance. When dealing with stress, his adjusted completion share dropped from 78% to 58%.

His strengths are his safety of the soccer, his sturdy arm, and enormous palms (10.5 inches) – top-10 all time for QBs on the mix. Regardless of his lack of scrambles, Penix doesn’t take many sacks, boasting solely a 7.6% stress to sack ratio, which is elite. Together with his sturdy arm, he throws correct deep balls and sideline passes, main all CFB QBs in 2023 with 125 accomplished deep makes an attempt.

SUMMARY

Whereas not an entire prospect, the Los Angeles Rams supply the right alternative for Heisman runner-up Michael Penix Jr. to develop behind Matthew Stafford, into his full potential as a high-upside pocket passer with sneaky athletic traits. There he can repair his essential weaknesses, that are his throwing mechanics and reads underneath stress. His damage historical past shouldn’t scare groups, as he confirmed prolific passing abilities in two full, wholesome seasons at Washington, posting nice statistics, and main them to the CFB championship recreation. I stay up for seeing the place Michael Penix Jr. finally goes on this upcoming NFL draft!

P.S. For the file, my two earlier BGN Neighborhood mock picks had been:

2019 Colts at 26, AJ Brown, WR

2022 Chiefs at 30, Trevor Penning, OL

I’d say I’m 1 for two on hits vs. busts as an armchair GM.

2024 BGN Mock Draft Order

1) Bears (Draftjunky): Caleb Williams, QB, USC2) Commanders (surefooted): Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State3) Patriots (niels.rosenquist): Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina4) Cardinals (eaglenomics): Malik Nabers, WR, LSU5) Chargers (SeanEFootball): Rome Odunze, WR, Washington6) Giants (89Tremaine) Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU7) Titans (Philly21): Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame8) Falcons (Eagles_Blitz80): Dallas Turner, EDGE, Alabama9) Bears (pheebthegoose): Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia10) Jets (GreenGrampa): Olumuyiwa Fashanu, OT, Penn State11) Vikings (The Participant Previously Often called Mousecop): J.J. McCarthy, QB, Michigan12) Broncos (PBARB1978): Bo Nix, QB, Oregon13) Raiders (iam4theBirdz): Taliese Fuaga, OT, Oregon State14) Saints (Fly Like An Eagle): Troy Fautanu, OT, Washington15) Colts (J. Wil): Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Toledo16) Seahawks (Phreezy E): Jer’Zhan Newton, DT, Illinois17) Jaguars (dredscottroberts): WR Brian Thomas Jr., WR, LSU18) Bengals (grantspectations): Byron Murphy II, DT, Texas19) Rams (Nolo0oo): Michael Penix Jr., QB, Washington20) Steelers (Dr.MidnightGreen)21) Dolphins (Neil Dutton)22) Eagles (ablesser88)23) Vikings (RabidPanda13)24) Cowboys (Elliptical Man)25) Packers (LeFire)26) Buccaneers (FlJoe)27) Cardinals (green1us)28) Payments (Leo Bedio)29) Lions (MrOilman)30) Ravens (LancGuy)31) 49ers (SakPrescott)32) Chiefs (Hoosinole)

Now it’s time so that you can vote for who YOU suppose ought to be chosen within the 2024 BGN Neighborhood Consensus Mock Draft.

1) Bears: QB Caleb Williams2) Commanders: QB Jayden Daniels3) Patriots: QB Drake Maye4) Cardinals: WR Marvin Harrison Jr.5) Chargers: WR Malik Nabers6) Giants: WR Rome Odunze7) Titans: OT Joe Alt8) Falcons: EDGE Dallas Turner9) Bears: OT Olumuyiwa Fashanu10) Jets: TE Brock Bowers11) Vikings: QB J.J. McCarthy12) Broncos: QB Bo Nix13) Raiders: OT Taliese Fuaga14) Saints: OT Troy Fautanu15) Colts: CB Quinyon Mitchell16) Seahawks: DT Byron Murphy17) Jaguars: CB Terrion Arnold18) Bengals: OT J.C. Latham19) Rams: