The Washington Huskies defeated the Texas Longhorns 37-31 in the Sugar Bowl on Monday night to advance to the College Football Playoff national championship game.
Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. stole the show, completing 29-of-38 passes for 430 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions. He also rushed three times for 31 yards.
After the Denver Broncos benched quarterback Russell Wilson last week, fans and pundits have been speculating about who will line up under center for Sean Payton’s offense in 2024. Wilson expects to be released by the Broncos in March, so that seemingly rules him out.
Jarrett Stidham started last week and he will start in the team’s season finale in Week 18, but he’s probably not a long-term answer at QB.
So it wouldn’t be surprising to see Denver select a quarterback in the NFL draft in April, perhaps even in the first round.
Following an impressive performance from Penix on Monday, fans and pundits quickly took to Twitter/X to link him to the Broncos.
Penix is going to be a name connected to the Broncos a lot in the coming months. https://t.co/BBp70B5jBe
— MileHighReport (@MileHighReport) January 2, 2024
I need Michael Penix Jr to be the Broncos starting QB next year like I need air pic.twitter.com/tlDuP9hfPA
— Joe Che (@chesportsguy) January 2, 2024
Penix Jr. to the @Broncos please. 🙏
— Ben Dignan (@bendignan) January 2, 2024
Forget Bo Nix. I’d rather have Penix on the Broncos. #BroncosCountry
— Bethany Reed (@Beth0362) January 2, 2024
Michael Penix Jr threw for 430 yards tonight and has carried UW to the national championship 🏈
“I’m not no quitter.”
Is he the Future Broncos QB? #9sports pic.twitter.com/zNeODyic3k
— Scotty Gange (@Scotty_G6) January 2, 2024
I would love to see Michael Penix dawn the orange and blue pic.twitter.com/KOFfKA1X7Q
— Denver Broncos 365 (@DailyBroncos) January 2, 2024
Penix is a guy I said this weekend the Broncos could pick in the first round
— Jay Feely (@jayfeely) January 2, 2024
Does everybody feel better about Penix being the Broncos’ first-round pick yet? https://t.co/tfgwgHuxQk
— Henry Chisholm (@HenryChisholm) January 2, 2024
Penix is a DOG! @Broncos next QB?
— Todd Davis (@BamBamDavis51) January 2, 2024
Man if Broncos could get Penix I’m getting a jersey lol https://t.co/8E9mVHHSK5
— Chris Harris (@ChrisHarrisJr) January 2, 2024
Been watching the bowl games all day today. Michael Penix Jr. is my favorite among those the Broncos can realistically target. He’s so smart plus his arm talent & accuracy is stupid special. His injury history scares me but I’m intrigued.
— AROD – Anthony Rodriguez (@AnthonyRod33) January 2, 2024
Michael Penix Jr. will look good in a Broncos uniform.
— Nick Kosmider (@NickKosmider) January 2, 2024
Penix out there dealing
Please fall to broncos 🙏🏾
— Tatum Bell (@tspeedtx) January 2, 2024
Broncos fans watching Penix. https://t.co/qzzntRBpKc
— Rich (midnight blue 🌠and sunshine yellow ☀️) (@RichKurtzman) January 2, 2024
Future Broncos QB Michael Penix, Jr.
— Parker Gabriel (@ParkerJGabriel) January 2, 2024
Excited to watch future Denver Broncos QB Michael Penix Jr play tonight. pic.twitter.com/RR9EjNpiNo
— 𝘾𝙖𝙢𝙚𝙧𝙤𝙣 𝙋𝙖𝙧𝙠𝙚𝙧 (@CameronParkerPO) January 2, 2024
Would you wear glasses with purple transition lenses for the rest of your life if it meant the @broncos could draft Michael Penix, Jr?
— Vic Lombardi (@VicLombardi) January 2, 2024
Then #Nuggets drafted Michael Porter Junior with the 14th overall pick and he was available because of injury issues.
The #Broncos have the 14th overall pick and might be able to draft Michael Penix Jr, another MPJ. He could be available because of injury issues.
— Eric Goodman (@EricGoodman) January 2, 2024
Penix would be a dream for the Broncos if he wasn’t a walking injury report.
— MileHighGreco (@MileHighGreco) January 2, 2024
If Penix didn’t have such an injury history, I would be screaming from the rooftops for the Broncos to draft him
— KJ (@KevSportsBurner) January 2, 2024
I expect the Broncos will. As for where Penix goes … it’s all about the medicals and what they reveal. The talent says top-10, maybe even top-5 (accounting for the QB premium). Smart, tenacious, leadership qualities … he checks a great many boxes beyond the physical. https://t.co/5UK3m1srBN
— Andrew Mason (@MaseDenver) January 2, 2024
As has been noted, Penix does have an injury history that includes a torn ACL and a shoulder injury. If the Broncos believe he’s healthy now and his body can hold up in the NFL, he might be a top prospect to watch in April.
