The Raiders are very hopeful that Jimmy Garoppolo can be the solution at the quarterback position moving forward. But given his injury history, it’s fair to wonder just how long he’ll be a potential option. If he can’t stay healthy, the Raiders might look to add someone else in next year’s draft.
But who could the Raiders target in Round 1 if Garoppolo doesn’t work out? In a recent article by Pro Football Focus, they took a look at one NFL draft prospect that each team should watch during the 2023 college football season.
For the Raiders, that was Washington QB Michael Penix Jr., who is one of the top passers in college football this year. Here is a snippet of what the site had to say about the potential fit between Raiders and Penix:
Michael Penix Jr. is currently QB3 on PFF’s 2024 big board. Penix Jr. showed flashes of his talent at Indiana but endured terrible injury luck.
His first season in Washington was a rousing success, leading the Power Five in passing yards and ranking 10th in passing grade among qualified FBS quarterbacks. Penix Jr. could be a Heisman finalist and a top-20 pick in next year’s draft. The Raiders will be watching him closely.
Penix is heading into his sixth season in college football, but he has finally found a home in Washington. He had a monster season in 2022, totaling 35 touchdowns in 13 games.
If Garoppolo doesn’t work out for the Raiders, Penix could be an interesting solution early in the NFL Draft. Keep an eye on him during the college football season as he could wind up being the third quarterback off the board in 2024.
