Three best team fits for Washington QB Michael Penix Jr.

While he isn't considered one of the top four prospects at his position, Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. is one of the most compelling players in the 2024 NFL Draft.

The 23-year-old led the nation in passing yards (4,903) this past season and helped the Huskies reach the College Football Playoff title game. However, his age, coupled with four season-ending injuries when he played at Indiana, might cause him to be drafted later than he should be.

Even so, many analysts, including ESPN's Field Yates, believe Penix will still be a first-round pick in this month's draft. With that in mind, here are three teams that would be an ideal fit for Penix.

Dallas Cowboys 

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones is no stranger to making shocking decisions on draft day, but would he make a move of this magnitude if Penix is still on the board at pick 24? It's impossible to know for sure, though with quarterback Dak Prescott set to hit free agency after the 2024 season, Penix warrants serious consideration.

According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, there's "no indication" that Dallas will sign Prescott to an extension this offseason. Since the three-time Pro Bowler can't be franchise-tagged next offseason due to a clause in his current contract, he may entertain offers from other teams. Should Prescott perform similarly to last season, when he led the league in passing touchdowns (36), a bidding war for his services that could exceed Dallas' budget might ensue.

Prescott deserves a high salary, though the Cowboys would be better off moving on if he attempts to reset the quarterback market. Dallas will eventually have to begin extension talks with All-Pro talents CeeDee Lamb and Micah Parsons, two young stars who should be prioritized over a quarterback with a 2-5 playoff record. Having a quarterback like Penix on a rookie-scale contract would make Dallas' negotiations with Lamb and Parsons less complicated and could potentially extend the team's window of contention.

Los Angeles Rams 

During a recent appearance on "The Pat McAfee Show," Bleacher Report's Jordan Schultz called the Rams, who own the 19th overall pick, "a sleeper" to land Penix, and it's easy to understand why.

After an injury-plagued 2022 season, Rams QB Matthew Stafford experienced a resurgence in 2023, throwing for 3,965 yards, 24 touchdowns and 11 interceptions to lead the team back to the postseason. Stafford turned 36 in February and has three seasons remaining on his current deal. Even though he hasn't shown signs of declining yet, it might be wise to play it safe and get a succession plan in order, especially given Stafford's extensive injury history.

Additionally, drafting a quarterback that HC Sean McVay can develop from scratch could be a worthwhile investment for Los Angeles. Since being hired in 2017, McVay hasn't had the opportunity to hand-pick a young quarterback to mentor, but he has had plenty of success getting the most out of his signal-callers. Considering he's helped Baker Mayfield resurrect his career and won a game with Carson Wentz as his starter over the last two seasons, it'd be exciting to see what McVay could accomplish with Penix. 

Seattle Seahawks 

Aside from the intriguing storyline that Penix staying in the state of Washington for his professional career would provide, Seattle could present him with a chance to start sooner rather than later. Although 2022 AP Comeback Player of the Year Geno Smith was reassured that he's Seattle's starting quarterback, it's clear that he'll be on a short leash in 2024. Otherwise, the Seahawks wouldn't have traded for former Commanders starter Sam Howell earlier this offseason.

While Howell showed some flashes in 2023, his addition shouldn't hinder Seattle from drafting Penix, who offers a higher upside. It's also worth mentioning that the Seahawks hired Ryan Grubb as their offensive coordinator this offseason, which is particularly notable since he was Penix's OC for the last two seasons. Penix's experience in Grubb's system would undoubtedly make his NFL transition more manageable, and given his success in it, he could have a bright future with the Seahawks if they select him.