[jwplayer QOg7AluT]
1. Tua Tagovailoa, Alabama 6-1, 218 (Top ten overall)
Why He’s Here On The List: This is with one gigantic, screaming caveat – if you really don’t think he can get, stay, and be healthy, then he’s in Joe Burrow’s spot here.
Obviously health is never guaranteed, but if you could promise that he’d start as many NFL games as Burrow, he’s it. He’s the truly special quarterback talent in this draft with the mix of arm, accuracy, and creativity to be the reason a team wins a Super Bowl.
Granted, he got to play on an elite team with elite talent – most games were light scrimmages – but that isn’t necessarily a knock. He got in a whole lot of easy reps, was solid in big games, and to put a nice spin on this, he learned how to play hurt. However …
What The NFL Types Want To See: The medical evaluation means absolutely everything. It’s not just going to be his hip problem. How’s the rest of the puzzle? Considering he didn’t take that many crazy hits, he suffered a whole lot of big injuries. It’s part of his game that he tries to do everything possible to make something happen, but he’ll have to learn to live to fight another day.
Bottom Line: How much of a risk do you want to take on his lack of durability? Do you really want to spend the next ten years holding your breath every time he gets popped?
However, he’s one of those guys who’s worth rolling the dice on.
For everyone who might have been off on the Deshaun Watson evaluation because of injury concerns – hand raised high and fast on this end – this isn’t a time to be scared … if the medical evaluations check out in Indy.
We’re in an NFL world now with Patrick, and Lamar, and Deshaun. If he can stay in one piece, Tua is going to be one of those one-name stars, too.
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