Washington’s Historic First Round at NFL Draft
It was a first round to remember at the NFL Draft for the Washington Huskies. Michael Penix Jr. and Rome Odunze were selected back-to-back in the top 10 of the NFL Draft. The Atlanta Falcons had the eighth overall pick and made a move not many were expecting. The organization selected Penix with the eighth pick, making him the fourth quarterback off the board in the NFL Draft.
Moments later, the Chicago Bears selected Odunze with the ninth overall pick. The Huskies’ leading receiver walked to the stage to greet NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell where he held up the Bears jersey with his name on the back. Odunze joined Caleb Williams in the Bears’ 2024 draft class.
The first round continued, and with the 20th pick, the Pittsburgh Steelers selected Troy Fautanu. The offensive tackle was at his home in Las Vegas with several family members and friends when he heard his name announced. The three first-round selections were the most in the first round for the Huskies since the 2015 season. Three defensive players were selected that year. This year, it was three offensive players from Washington’s top offense in 2023.
Atlanta Falcons Select Michael Penix Jr.
The Atlanta Falcons just signed Kirk Cousins, the 35-year-old NFL veteran who spent much of his career with the Minnesota Vikings. Atlanta’s decision to select Washington’s Penix at eighth overall in the NFL Draft was stunning, as many prognosticators had him as the fifth-best quarterback available. But Penix was selected before JJ McCarthy, who wound up being the fifth quarterback off the board. Penix threw for 4,903 yards and 36 touchdowns last season, leading his Washington Huskies to the College Football Playoff National Championship Game. He lost just three games as the Huskies’ starting quarterback. Penix beat 10 teams ranked in the top 25 while at Washington. He capped off his career by winning the Maxwell Award, the trophy given to the nation’s best player. Penix had an impressive Pro Day at Washington with a 40-yard dash time that turned heads around the nation.
Chicago Bears Select Rome Odunze
Chicago selected its quarterback with the first overall pick and added a big-time weapon to its wide receiver room in Odunze at ninth overall. Odunze is off of back-to-back 1,000-plus yard seasons at Washington in 2022 and 2023. He caught 13 touchdowns on 92 receptions for an average of nearly 18 yards per catch last year. Odunze finished third in the Biletnikoff Award voting last season and had an impressive NFL Combine showing in March. In a very good wide receiver class at the NFL Draft, Washington’s Odunze was the third wide-out off the board. He will join a talented wide receiver room in Chicago with DJ Moore and Keenan Allen. Moore was the NFL’s sixth-leading receiver last season, and Allen was the League’s sixth-leading receiver in 2019.
Pittsburgh Steelers Select Troy Fautanu
Fautanu grew up a Pittsburgh Steelers fan. He looked up to Troy Polamalu in that Steelers’ secondary, and now he will get to suit up in the black and gold. Fautanu was the sixth offensive tackle selected in what was a very deep offensive line draft class. The former Husky was one of the nation’s elite pass blockers last season with an 88.4 overall pass-blocking grade. He gave up just two sacks on 766 offensive snaps. Fautanu’s blocking efficiency was ranked eighth in the Pac-12 Conference last year at 97.9%. He walked away from his best season in purple and gold by winning the Morris Trophy, awarded to the top offensive lineman in the Pac-12 Conference each year.
