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Unless they move up, the Las Vegas Raiders’ 3-1 record at the end of the season probably took them out of contention to select one of the best quarterbacks in the 2024 NFL Draft. The price of trading up, though, can be high.

Rather, the Raiders might want to hold off on taking a chance on a high-upside player until later in the draft. Dane Brugler of The Athletic predicts that Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. will be selected by Las Vegas with the No. 44 pick in his most recent mock draft. Penix Jr. is expected to drop to the second round.

In a mock selection published on January 16, Brugler stated, “Penix is perhaps the most divisive quarterback in the draft. He was an excellent college passer, but there are several areas of his game (and medical history) that complicate his projection.” “The Raiders need to breathe fresh air into the quarterback room and watch how it unfolds, but they shouldn’t give up on Aidan O’Connell.”

Penix is a tough player to evaluate because he has a good chance of being selected in the first round. He finished 25-3 as a starter his final two seasons at Washington, throwing for 9,544 yards and 67 touchdowns. Although he is among the class’s most accurate quarterbacks and has a powerful arm, there are some concerns.

Why Would Michael Penix Be Available in 2nd Round?

After Washington’s victory over Texas in the College Football Playoffs, Michael Penix appeared to have established himself as a top-five pick. Unfortunately, he was unable to maintain the momentum against Michigan in the National Championship game, and as a result, his reputation has taken a serious hit.

The main cause for concern with Penix is his age and history of injuries. During his four seasons in college, he suffered injuries that ended the season, twice tearing his ACL. It’s reasonable to wonder if he has much more room to develop given that he will be 24 when the 2024 season begins.

Penix may now be the prospect best prepared for the NFL. Throughout his two years at Washington, he was healthy and participated in several important games. Although taking a chance on him in the second round could be quite profitable, selecting him early in the first round might be very risky. The Raiders would be thrilled to select Penix in the second round if they are unable to move up in the draft and need a quarterback.

Alabama OL JC Latham in 1st Round?

The Raiders’ first-round selection may go in a lot of different ways, but Dane Brugler thinks Alabama offensive tackle JC Latham will be selected.

“The Raiders’ biggest question mark is quarterback, especially with a regime change,” Brugler noted. But is there one here that’s worth aiming for?

Although Latham is arguably the best player in the draft, Raiders supporters wounded by the Alex Leatherwood selection might not want another offensive lineman from Alabama in the first round. He possesses the functional mobility skills necessary to play guard or tackle at a high level.

It would be prudent for the Raiders to attempt to improve their offensive line. Andre James, the centre, is a free agent and may sign elsewhere. Guard Dylan Parham would then slide to centre as a result, but it would create another need. Latham can play tackle or guard, so the Raiders could make sense to pursue him in the first round.