Washington QB Michael Penix Jr. linked with NFC West team

It remains unclear if Washington Huskies quarterback Michael Penix Jr. will become a first-round draft pick on the night of April 25 or fall all the way into the second or even third round of the player-selection process. 

Assuming he remains on the board through the completion of the first round, ESPN NFL Draft analyst Matt Miller believes the Los Angeles Rams could trade with the Los Angeles Chargers to move up from overall choice No. 52 to No. 37 in order to land Penix. 

"Being aggressive is in the DNA of Rams general manager Les Snead, and with starting quarterback Matthew Stafford dealing with injuries the past few seasons and having recently turned 36 years old, the Rams should be thinking long-term about the QB position," Miller explained. "Sending pick No. 52 and one of the team's two third-round selections would be enough to get very high in the second round. With 11 picks in the draft -- tied for most of any team -- the Rams have draft capital to spend if getting a quarterback with starting-level ability is a priority." 

Some have insisted that Penix would be a first-round lock if not for concerns related to the fact that he tore his right anterior cruciate ligament twice and suffered injuries to both shoulders while in college. Teams seemed unconcerned following medical evaluations, though, and it's believed the Denver Broncos could target Penix as high as at pick No. 12 overall. The Las Vegas Raiders currently hold the 13th overall selection and have also been linked with Penix.  

Miller noted that it would "be important for the Rams to get ahead of potential quarterback teams" in the draft order such as the New York Giants. In the same piece, ESPN's Field Yates suggested that the Giants could move up from overall pick No. 47 to No. 36 for the right to take either Penix or Oregon Ducks quarterback Bo Nix. Of course, it's possible Big Blue could make that trade with Nix in mind and leave Penix for a club such as the Rams.

Then again, individuals such as NFL Media's Rhett Lewis may be proven right about Penix going off the board before the 16th overall selection, currently held by the Seattle Seahawks.