DENVER — Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. visited with Denver Broncos coaches and personnel staff Tuesday at team headquarters, a source told 9NEWS.
It's one of several top 30 visits around the NFL for Penix, a lefty thrower who is an older prospect at 24 years old as he was a six-year college player because of injury and Covid-season exemption all players received.
Penix's medical report is rough – two ACL tears in his right knee that ended his 2018 and 2020 seasons at Indiana, and surgeries on each shoulder that ended his seasons in 2019 and 2021.
But he then transferred to Washington where he stayed healthy for two seasons and combined for more than 9,500 passing yards and 67 touchdowns.
But here’s the statistic former NFL quarterback Jim Miller loves: Penix took just 32 sacks while attempting more than 1,700 passes in his six college seasons. In his two seasons at Washington, Penix was sacked just 16 times in 1,125 pass attempts. Penix has picked up momentum since his dazzling Pro Day performance last week.
“People don’t think he can run but he never has to because he gets rid of the ball,’’ Miller said. “He ran a 4.5 at his Pro Day and he was clocked at close to 20 mph at the Senior Bowl when he scrambled one time so I know he can run. He gets the ball out of his hand, he never has to.’'
The NFL Draft begins Thursday, April 25. the Broncos will have the No. 12 overall pick and it would be a surprise if they don't parlay that selection into a quarterback - whether it means trading up, trading back or staying put.
After deciding to release Russell Wilson despite eating $37.79 million of his salary this year, the Broncos currently have just two unproven quarterbacks on their roster, Jarrett Stidham and Ben DiNucci.
Sources told 9NEWS the Broncos expressed interest in Sam Darnold via free agency and Sam Howell via trade this offseason but the Sams wound up with Minnesota and Seattle, respectively. The Broncos are still expected to add two more quarterbacks before OTAs begin in late-May.
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