Overview
Position: Quarterback
Height: 6’0
Weight: 217 lbs
School: Alabama Crimson Tide
Tua Tagovailoa 2020 NFL Draft Profile
Coming into the 2019 college football season, Tua Tagovailoa was projected to be selected first overall in the 2020 NFL Draft. Tagovailoa was fighting to achieve a perfect season with the Crimson Tide in 2019. But injuries continued to plague Tua Tagovailoa as he suffered another ankle injury (opposite ankle from 2018), and a fractured and dislocated hip. The latter prematurely ended his season. Before his string of injuries, Tagovailoa was undoubtedly one of the top players in college football. He also had attributes that made him a high-caliber NFL draft prospect going into his sophomore year. In his entire three-year career at Alabama, Tagovailoa had a 69.3% completion percentage, and he threw for 7,443 yards, 87 touchdowns, and only 11 interceptions.
In his only full season in 2018, Tua Tagovailoa threw for 3,966 yards, 43 touchdowns, and only six interceptions on 245 completions (out of 355 attempts). Some teams may be hesitant to select Tagovailoa with a high pick in this year’s draft, but in the past few weeks, Tagovailoa’s stock has risen due to the positive medical evaluation on his hip. No prospect in the draft is perfect but Tagovailoa is an elite prospect. He has the potential to bring a consistent winning culture to the team that ends up drafting him.
Strengths
- Incredible and precise accurate passing ability
- Consistent strong-arm
- Able make the deep throws
- Smart decision-making when reading the coverage schemes of opposing defenses
- Dual-threat quarterback. He can run for the extra yards
- Great scrambling abilities to easily escape pressure in and out of the pocket
- Can throw efficiently on the run
- Quick feet
- Fast reflexes to make throws and move out of the pocket
- Has the mentality to beat his opponents and fix the smallest problems
Weaknesses
- Injury history
- Slight durability issues
- Not ideal height for an NFL-caliber quarterback
- Tends to hold onto the ball too long when scrambling
- Injuries may derail his running ability
Comparisons: Drew Brees (New Orleans Saints)
Teams with position needs: Carolina Panthers, Chicago Bears, Cincinnati Bengals, Indianapolis Colts, Las Vegas Raiders, Los Angeles Chargers, Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Projection: top-five to top-ten
Bottom line
Tua Tagovailoa is a once in a generation type of talent. His great accuracy, decision-making skills, arm strength, and ability to be on the run makes him difficult to stop. Tagovailoa can have a great NFL career if he can get and remain healthy. Teams like the Colts are looking to make a significant trade to acquire Tagovailoa in the draft. Even the Detroit Lions seem like they are willing to move on from Matthew Stafford.
Tagovailoa’s recent medical report on his hip looks great. He seems to be recovering much faster than anticipated. Tagovailoa stated that he has been throwing during the recovery process. Tagovailoa expects to throw 60 to 80 passes in Alabama’s Pro Day on March 24th. He also expects to be medically cleared on April 9th for his own Pro Day where he may display his running ability.
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