Tua Tagovailoa is going pro. On Monday, Alabama’s star quarterback announced that he will enter the 2020 NFL Draft. 
[RELATED: Updated 2020 NFL Draft Order]
Tagovailoa was long expected to enter the draft this year, but his brutal hip injury and subsequent surgery threw those plans into flux. Before the injury, Tagovailoa was projected to be the No. 1 overall pick. Now, between that and the emergence of Heisman Award winner Joe Burrow, no one is quite sure where he’ll land.
After the injury, doctors told the QB that he’ll be able to play football again at 100%. Even then, Tagovailoa conceded that he’ll have some barriers to overcome.
“I don’t think I’d be the same again because there’s, like metal in here, you know?” he said. “I lose some rotation inward, so I won’t be able to twist as much inward and whatnot. I wouldn’t need that as much. When you’re running, you’re almost always opening up your hip. From the doctors say, they expect a full recovery and I’ll be able to go out there and play football again at 100 percent, it’s just I won’t be able to rotate it internally the same way.”
Tagovailoa could have positioned himself as the top prospect in the 2021 draft by returning to school and turning in another strong season, but that would have come with significant risk. Instead of gambling, he’ll cash in his chips now and, in all likelihood, wind up as a first-round selection.
If tests and workouts show that Tagovailoa is truly 100% healthy – or close to it – he could still land somewhere in the top 10. The Lions could theoretically use the No. 4 pick to select Matthew Stafford‘s successor, though they have other pressing needs to fill. The Dolphins could also consider Tagovailoa at No. 5 and ease him into things with Ryan Fitzpatrick serving as their Week 1 starter.
Dolphins make it happen at #5
I think it might take a trade up to #3.
God I hope so! What makes “making fun” of a team much more enjoyable is knowing they traded up for their bust of a QB!
Why would Detroit or New York take him? Detroit is the only team that could make some sense but I doubt they’d move on from Stafford
I think they draft a quarterback somewhere in this draft and start grooming someone. They had too many without Stafford this season and he is only getting older. Personally I say 3rd or 4th round.
It’s not about Detroit or NY taking a QB, but all it takes is one team to jump the Dolphins to get Tua. So Miami might want to be proactive.
Other teams can trade up for Tua.
I guarentee he goes #3 at the latest..
Could be Dolphins but not at 5.
To jump Nyg? They won’t pick him
Sadly, I feel like Miami will stay put at 5 and get leap frogged by one of chargers, panthers, jags, raiders, colts, or Bucs. And then us Dolphins fans can start the Tanking for Trevor campaign
Plot twist, they keep FRICKEN FITZMAGIC!!!
He did lead the team in rushing
Bigger plot twist: Colts trade #13 and #34 for the ‘fins #5 and take Tua. They can sit him for a year behind Brissett and Miami has 5 first round picks to fill their holes.
That’s a very interesting offer but that would mean the Phins pass on Tua, the guy they’ve been rumored to be tanking for. Don’t think they would take the risk
It would take more than that to move up to #5. They would need 13, 34 & probably a 2021 high pick as well.
Mjm117,
Waste of a pick at #5. Dolphins needs more weapons then just a qb. They’ve sucked as long as i’ve lived and will continue to do so. Tuo is too injury prone to draft.
hard to deny they dont need a QB though, is it not? i get the risk that comes with Tua, but id bet more people will be angry at teams not taking the risk if he is healthy than if he is picked high but has injury issues. talent is tantalizing.
I agree it all starts with a QB.
No chance the Phins pass on Tua at 5.. but no chance he slides to 5 either.
Chargers, Panthers among others will be looking to move up to 3/4
Smart move. His draft stock has fallen a bit, but he’ll definitely still go in the 1st round ($). This way he’ll avoid teams like the Bengals and Jags and could go to a potential playoff contender
…..a playoff contender like the dolphins….. ok.
Bengals should be pretty exciting with Burow and I’m a Steelers fan. The kids just impressive as heyall
Perfect position for the Giants to be in
Chase Young will be gone by their pick and they can trade down and get some more picks
Don’t think it’s a perfect position for the Giants. The Lions are ahead of them. I think Stafford’s contract has like a year left and he also had/has a broken back. Lions could easily take Tua.
That would be fine. If the Lions take Tua the Giants can grab Thomas for the Oline.
Now he can get paid to sign autographs! Smart move, always take the money. Plenty of ads out there to ‘make up’ for a potential draft slippage financial loss.
Man, the Josh Rosen star has lost so much luster….. great move by Arizona to salvage any value there.
Also a dumb move by Miami if you’re going to keep him on the bench and not even play him. Waste of a 2nd rounder.
at least Miami can hang their hats on the fact that they have gotten plenty of picks to replace that 2.
Great news for all the teams that missed out on the Richard Todd sweepstakes.
If Miami wants to move up to 2 or 3 for him, then I suggest this:
Detroit receives: number 5 pick (Miami) and Houston’s first via miami (pick 24-32, depending on where it lands.
Miami receives: number 3 pick (Detroit) and Detroit’s second rounder.. number 35?
So Detroit moves back two spots and still fills a need and moves up about 10 spots into the first round
While Miami moves up to guarantee they get tua and move 10 spots back in the second round
There will be 3 QB’s taken in the top 10 anyway; Burrow, Tua, and Herbert.
I bet Miami takes Tua at 5 and Burrow goes 1; Herbert 6-9.
Miami sits Tua behind Fitzpatrick for a year, because they have so many first round picks that they can afford to do that!
Nobody is a psychic, but that’s my prediction!
The Fins would be crazy not to consider any trade possibilities. Trade #5 and sign Brady or start Fitzmagic. Pick a QB later in RD 1 or even RD 2 (maybe Tua falls). They need someone that can mature in the Flores system. For all we know Flores may be planning to start Rosen next year and didn’t start him this year cause it would have killed Rosen’s progress.
i think Brady is only going to a contender at this point on his career, if him leaving NWE is even likley.
If that was the plan all along and Rosen succeeds, Flores would be a legend.
smart move
I may be in the minority here, but I’d be less worried about how the injury will impact him physically, and more about how it does so mentally. I wouldn’t not take him, but I don’t know that I’d surrender a king’s ransom to trade up to do so.
Agreed. His comments about the injury are concerning. Maybe he’ll gain some confidence with a year of practice or maybe he’s never the same. Only time will tell.