CFB National Championship 2024: NFL Draft Prospects to Watch Washington vs. Michigan

Washington Huskies quarterback Michael Penix Jr. boosted his 2024 NFL draft stock with his College Football Playoff semifinal win over the Texas Longhorns.

Penix could further his status among NFL scouts with a strong showing in the CFB Playoff National Championship against the Michigan Wolverines.

The left-handed quarterback is one of a few Huskies who could potentially be selected in the first round in April.

Penix's primary target, wide receiver Rome Odunze, is expected to be the highest selection from the Washington roster.

Michigan's top talents have some work to do between now and April to lock themselves in as first-round picks.

Wolverines quarterback J.J. McCarthy might have the best chance to be chosen in the top 32.

McCarthy is not rated as highly as Penix and other quarterbacks, but the need for signal-callers across the NFL combined with a strong National Championship could boost his profile.

Michael Penix Jr., QB, Washington

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NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - JANUARY 01: Michael Penix Jr. #9 of the Washington Huskies warms up prior to a game against the Texas Longhorns during the CFP Semifinal Allstate Sugar Bowl at Caesars Superdome on January 01, 2024 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)

Penix's pinpoint precision in the Sugar Bowl turned heads.

The Heisman Trophy runner-up produced 430 passing yards, a pair of touchdowns and he even ran for 31 yards on three carries.

Penix is, at best, the No. 3 quarterback on the NFL draft board. Caleb Williams and Drake Maye are the clear top two across draft boards.

LSU's Jayden Daniels, who beat out Penix for the Heisman, could also be ranked ahead of Penix going into the National Championship.

The Athletic ranked Penix 26th on its NFL draft big board in December, while Pro Football Focus mocked Penix to the Atlanta Falcons at No. 9 after the semifinals.

Two strong performances in the CFB Playoff could be enough for some teams to solidify Penix as a potential top 10 draft pick.

If Williams and Maye land in the top three, as widely expected, the franchises in need of quarterbacks at the back end of the top 10 could choose between Penix and Daniels.

Penix does come with the disadvantage of being 24 years old and a player with some injury history from his stint at Indiana.

Those concerns will likely come up throughout the pre-draft process, but if you judge him on performance alone, Penix has a strong case to be a top 10 pick.

Rome Odunze, WR, Washington

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NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - JANUARY 01: Rome Odunze #1 of the Washington Huskies celebrates after a first down during the first quarter against the Texas Longhorns during the CFP Semifinal Allstate Sugar Bowl at Caesars Superdome on January 01, 2024 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)

Rome Odunze will be in competition with LSU's Malik Nabers to be the second wide receiver selected in April.

The Athletic ranked Odunze as the 12th overall prospect, one spot behind Nabers, in its December rankings.

Pro Football Focus had Odunze as the No. 10 overall pick and third wide out chosen in its most-recent mock draft. PFF said Odunze "would've easily been WR1 in last year's draft."

Odunze extended his streak of 100-yard games to five with 125 yards on six receptions in the Sugar Bowl against a Texas defense that was one of the better units in the country.

A sixth straight 100-yard showing against an even tougher defense could sway some teams to place Odunze ahead of Nabers on their draft boards. That alteration could also happen during the pre-draft process as teams take closer looks at the wide receiver prospects.

Odunze could be a good fit for a team like the Chicago Bears, who will need a top-tier wide out to partner D.J. Moore regardless of who is their quarterback in 2024.

The Tennessee Titans, New York Jets and New York Giants could be other teams intrigued by Odunze because of their needs at wide receiver.

J.J. McCarthy, QB, Michigan

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PASADENA, CA - JANUARY 01: QB J.J. McCarthy (9) of the Michigan Wolverines looks to pass during the Alabama Crimson Tide game versus the Michigan Wolverines CFP Semifinal at the Rose Bowl Game on January, 1, 2024, at the Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, CA. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

J.J. McCarthy is not a surefire first-round lock like his CFB Playoff National Championship counterpart.

McCarthy was ranked as the 34th best prospect by The Athletic. He was the highest-ranked Michigan player on that list.

McCarthy presents a different type of evaluation than Penix, Williams or Maye because he plays in a run-first offense.

Running back Blake Corum is the most valuable piece to the Michigan offense, while McCarthy excels in a supporting role.

McCarthy made some vital throws to bring Michigan back in the fourth quarter of the Rose Bowl, but his overall performance was nowhere close to what Penix did in the Sugar Bowl.

McCarthy has been efficient when he throws the ball. He owns a 73.2 completion percentage and threw for 22 touchdowns compared to four interceptions.

McCarthy's winning experience at Michigan, accuracy and ability in the clutch will be valued by some NFL teams, but he does appear to be a starter right away and he may be best off as a backup on a contending team to start his career.