Will injury concerns cause Michael Penix Jr. to fall to second round?

Some believe that a team such as the New York Giants could grab Washington Huskies quarterback Michael Penix Jr. via a second-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. 

Others are convinced Penix will hear his name called on the event's opening night despite his worrisome injury history. 

"A lot will be determined by medical [evaluations] and teams will differ, but, no, I don't think he's there in [round] two," one unnamed AFC executive told ESPN's Jeremy Fowler about Penix for a piece published Tuesday. 

It seems to be a lock that quarterbacks Caleb Williams (USC), Jayden Daniels (LSU), Drake Maye (North Carolina) and J.J. McCarthy (Michigan) will all be drafted before Penix. Penix tore his right anterior cruciate ligament twice and suffered injuries to both shoulders while in college but is coming off a healthy season that included the signal-caller guiding the Huskies to the national title game. 

"Multiple teams say the medical realities are something teams will have to monitor and have a plan for but likely won't sink his draft stock," Fowler shared about Penix. 

While the Chicago Bears are widely expected to draft Williams first overall, it remains a mystery what the Washington Commanders will do at pick No. 2. Many assume that Daniels, Maye and McCarthy will be off the board before the draft's sixth pick is spent, but at least one AFC executive has Penix ranked fourth among quarterback prospects and ahead of McCarthy. 

"He's just solid at everything," that executive told Fowler about Penix. "He can get streaky, but he's a good decision-maker who distributes the football well -- if a guy's open, he's going to find him. That, to me, is his secret sauce."

Fowler indicated the fact that Penix "was 'exceptional' in team interviews" helped the quarterback receive a first-round grade from multiple coaches. Penix has repeatedly been linked with a Las Vegas Raiders club that holds the 13th overall pick. 

"There's a lot to like -- he's like a good point guard with a plus arm," one executive added about Penix. "I wouldn't classify him as the type of player who will carry a team, but if he's got a good supporting cast, he can deliver the ball consistently." 

As of Tuesday afternoon, DraftKings Sportsbook listed the Raiders as the betting favorites to draft Penix at +260 odds. The Minnesota Vikings hold the draft's 11th overall pick and were second on DraftKings' list regarding the drafting of Penix at +350 odds.