Tua Tagovailoa
QB, Alabama
Draft Projection: Top-15
NFL Comparison: Russell Wilson
Tua has the tools necessary to become one of the next great quarterbacks, but he has some red flags. He is very technically sound, with very quick feet, eyes, and release. He put a great spin on the ball, making it very catchable, and is always able to manipulate safeties with his eyes. Tua is also a great decision maker when it comes to RPOs and is an overall solid decision maker, which is highlighted by his 8:1 career touchdown to interception ratio in college. Though he doesn't have the arm talent of someone like Patrick Mahomes or Matthew Stafford, Tua has the arm strength necessary to make all NFL throws. He is also a great runner, which fits the modern-day NFL mold of a quarterback. He is very agile and typically looks to extend plays to find somewhere to throw rather than running the first chance he gets, making him a phenomenal dual-threat QB. Tua is also a proven winner and has shown that he can lead a team in the clutch, which is one of the most important qualities in a quarterback. Whoever drafts him can rely on him in big games. Tua comes with concerns, however. First is his durability issues. Tua has had trouble staying healthy in college and is now coming off of a season-ending hip injury. He has also had two ankle surgeries, a broken nose, and a concussion as a starter. There are rumors that Tua has failed two teams' physicals and that his current injuries are more than just his hip, but his ankle and his wrist as well. These are serious concerns if the rumors are true, but there is always the possibility that they are smokescreens put out by teams in an effort to have him fall to their pick. If the rumors are true Tua could slide in the draft and might end up red-shirting his first season, which might not be such a bad thing considering the success that players like Patrick Mahomes have had after sitting for their first year. There is also an issue in the fact that Tua is smaller than the average quarterback, coming in at 6' 0''. Tua also had room to improve in his decision making, but that will improve with good coaching. Finally, there is some concern as to whether Tua was the reason for all of his production or if it was primarily due to all of the talent surrounding him. Overall, Tua has the tools to be a very good quarterback but he has size and durability issues.
Analytics-Based Prospect Grade: 96