Why Washington's Michael Penix Jr. shouldn't be a draft target for Giants

Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr.'s brilliant performance against the Texas Longhorns in Monday's College Football Playoff semifinal game has surely improved his draft stock, which could continue to soar in the months ahead.

However, Penix shouldn't be a prospect the New York Giants, a team that may select a signal-caller in April's draft, consider spending their first-round pick on. That's not to say Penix lacks talent, as the Heisman Trophy runner-up obviously has plenty of it. After all, he's the nation's leading passer (4,648 yards) and proved that he could dominate under the spotlight in the biggest game of his career, throwing for 430 yards and two touchdowns in Monday’s 37-31 win. 

According to Tankathon, New York is projected to pick fifth in the 2024 NFL Draft and must decide how to proceed with QB Daniel Jones, who had the first season of his four-year, $160 million extension derailed by injuries. The Giants can get off Jones' contract after next season, and considering the offense ran more smoothly under QBs Tyrod Taylor and Tommy DeVito, perhaps GM Joe Schoen will pursue another long-term answer at the position in the draft.

Even so, if the current draft order is true, the Giants might not be able to land either of the top quarterback prospects, Caleb Williams of USC or North Carolina's Drake Maye. While New York could draft LSU QB Jayden Daniels, the reigning Heisman Trophy winner, or trade down and stockpile assets before drafting Jones' successor, selecting Penix comes with considerable risk. 

The Giants are the 30th-ranked offense in terms of points (14.9) and yards per game this season (271.6), neither of which will likely drastically improve just by a quarterback change. The team desperately needs a true No. 1 receiver and must do a near-complete overhaul of an offensive line that has surrendered the most sacks since the 1986 Philadelphia Eagles (83).

Given that Penix is a left-handed quarterback, it might be difficult to tailor the offensive line to protect him next season, as New York's 2022 first-round pick Evan Neal would be his blindside protector. The right tackle has had a disastrous start to his pro career, allowing nine sacks and 69 pressures in 20 games. Yet, since he was such a high draft pick, the Giants might not be willing to move on from him so quickly despite the fact that it could be the best route for the organization. 

Additionally, Jones' extensive injury history, which includes two serious neck issues and a torn ACL, would be a deciding factor if New York opts to draft his replacement. Because of this, it's not easy to justify swapping out an injury-prone quarterback for another, as Penix hasn't exactly had a clean bill of health in his collegiate career. The 23-year-old suffered three season-ending injuries in four years at Indiana before transferring to Washington, one to each of his knees and another to his throwing shoulder.

With another stellar showing in the national championship and at the NFL Scouting Combine, Penix could ultimately solidify himself as the consensus third-ranked quarterback in April's class. But fit is just as, if not more, important than talent when drafting, and he doesn't seem to be an ideal match for the Giants.