The Seattle Seahawks could enter the 2024 NFL draft with the intention of acquiring their next franchise quarterback.
As part of a “blockbuster” trade proposals list compiled by Bleacher Report’s Ryan Fowler, the Seahawks would acquire the No. 10 pick in the 2024 NFL draft and a fourth-round draft pick (No. 111 overall) from the New York Jets in exchange for multiple draft picks, including their No. 16 pick, two 2024 third-round picks (No. 78 and No. 81 overall) along with a 2025 fourth-round pick.
The reason why the proposal is considered a “blockbuster” one is because the Seahawks would be trading up to select University of Washington alum and Heisman runner-up Michael Penix Jr.
Why Michael Penix is a ‘Polarizing’ Prospect Entering Draft
The 23-year-old Penix is one of the more high-profile names entering the draft. Outside of finishing as the runner-up in Heisman Trophy voting, he finished as a First-Team All-American and won the Maxwell award for his sensational 2023 season. Penix led the Huskies to a 13-0 regular season record and threw 36 touchdowns with 4,903 passing yards to lead the nation in the latter category.
While there’s little doubt that Penix is a prolific and talented quarterback, there are questions over how good he’ll be entering the pro’s. Further complicating matters is his injury history, with Penix suffering two torn ACL’s when he played at the University of Indiana during the 2018 and 2020 seasons.
CBS Sports’ Chris Trapasso actually refers to Penix as perhaps the most “polarizing” quarterback prospect ever. That would be because some experts project Penix to be selected in the first round with some believing he might actually go undrafted.
Trapasso’s pre-combine grade of Penix is similar to the one he had for Tennessee Titans quarterback Will Levis, who was a projected first-round pick in last year’s draft before ultimately being selected with the 33rd overall pick — the first pick in the second round — in the 2023 NFL draft.
“Based on what Penix showcased at Washington in 2022 and 2023, he absolutely is a draftable prospect,” writes Trapasso. “In fact, my current, pre-combine grade is very close to the grade I had on current Titans quarterback Will Levis a year ago. So he’s well in the clear.”