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2024 NFL Draft: Trade Scenarios and Best Prospect Fits for League's Worst Teams

A.Lee3 months ago

    Keith Gillett/Icon Sportswire via

    The Washington Huskies are fun to watch, especially their offense with quarterback Michael Penix Jr. pulling the strings. Despite leading the nation's third-ranked team, putting up top-notch passing numbers and being counted among the Heisman Trophy favorites, his game doesn't necessarily translate as well as others in the same conversation.

    His weight distribution creates an overreliance on pure arm strength, and the quarterback clearly struggles greatly against pressure. Those are but two concerns. More can be seen after he completed 52.8 percent of his passes during the past two games.

    "The past two weeks have been a useful look at Michael Penix's accuracy issues," Klassen said. "In both games, Penix survived on shot plays down the field to his two jump-ball machines, Rome Odunze and Ja'Lynn Polk. Timing-based concepts in the underneath area and touch throws outside the numbers have both escaped Penix. He is a unique thrower with a slow wind-up, which can make short throws inconsistent. This sixth-year senior's low release also makes him a one-speed thrower, sapping him of the ability to add touch and arc when necessary.

    "Penix is still a viable quarterback prospect thanks to his arm talent and aggression. But he shouldn't be viewed as a first-round prospect."

    Sometimes good enough isn't quite good enough.

    Texas' Xavier Worthy has carried a first-round grade through most of this year's process. He posted two excellent performances in back-to-back weeks against the TCU Horned Frogs and Iowa State Cyclones, where he contributed 214 receiving yards.

    Others around the nation are playing better and deserving of a little more attention based on their overall skill sets, though.

    "Every draft season includes players who fall not necessarily because they got worse," Klassen said, "but because the rest of the class around them stepped up and solidified themselves. That's where Worthy sits.

    "Worthy is still an exceptional speed-threat with quick feet as a route-runner. He just isn't as complete and physically impressive as certain other prospects.

    "At 6'1" and 172 pounds, the junior prospect is dangerously thin, and it hurts him quite a bit when playing the ball in traffic and at the catch point."

    No prospect has experienced quite the ups and downs of Georgia's Amarius Mims, at least in this space.

    The 6'7", 340-pound blocker opened the season strongly as a first-time, full-time starter. An ankle injury derailed that promising start. Mims is back in the lineup, but the raw nature to his game creates concern. He may not be ready to make the leap to the professional ranks.

    "Mims played two games since his Tightrope surgery and struggled with his technique against Tennessee this past weekend, specifically in pass-protection with oversetting that led to losing across his face a few different times," Thorn said. "He fell off of multiple blocks in the run game as well.

    "Mims' size, ease of movement and natural strength is evident. But his lack of polish is as well and will need to show some improvement as the year progresses to help quiet some concerns about him being ready to start right away as a rookie."

    Jamari Thrash made a seamless transition into Power Five play after four seasons with the Georgia State Panthers. He became the type of playmaker Louisville needed on the outside, helping the Cardinals work their way up the rankings.

    However, Thrash's performance took a dip over the past two weeks with four total catches for 29 yards, though he has dealt with a hand injury.

    "If Thrash is going to play through injury, he must produce more to establish himself as a top-100 pick," Klassen said. "At his best, the fifth-year senior plays with ample speed and eye-popping twitch to excel as both a route-runner and ball-carrier.

    "Those traits and better production need to show up again in two big upcoming games against the Kentucky Wildcats and Florida State Seminoles."

    Iowa's Cooper DeJean was well on his way to becoming a first-round pick in the 2024 NFL draft. He graded as such through the past three months. Unfortunately, Iowa announced the standout defensive back suffered a season-ending lower-leg injury during a practice session last week.

    DeJean still classifies as a junior and may decide to return to Iowa for another season.

    "DeJean was having an excellent season before the injury," Giddings said. "He excelled as a dynamic punt returner and physical presence roaming the Iowa secondary. He's an athletically gifted defensive back with versatility to play at multiple spots in defensive backfield. He showed to have the size, speed, and ball skills needed to make him an early round pick.

    "After the injury, we must see what his timeline looks like for recovery. If he is set to be fully healthy before or early enough in the season, he may be able to slip into the earlier rounds. For now, the assumption is his draft stock took a significant hit until further details are revealed."

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