Former Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa weighed out his future options – but he ultimately decided to forego his senior season and declare for the 2020 NFL draft.
Tua, who is recovering from a hip surgery, is expected to be healthy by April and able to participate in a throwing workout for NFL teams ahead of this year’s draft, according to his agent Leigh Steinberg.
Tagovailoa will hold about a 40-minute session in which he makes 60-80 throws in front of scouts. If his recovery process goes quicker than anticipated, he could throw at Alabama’s Pro Day in March. If not, it will be a separate Pro Day, likely closer to the draft, which begins on April 23.
Tagovailoa will attend the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis and go through interviews with teams, but he will not participate in drills or throw. While he’s there, he will also go through the medicals, which will be very critical when determining the long-term outlook of his hip.
The Chargers, who currently have the No. 6 overall selection and have a huge need for a quarterback, will be locked into how everything shapes up for Tua. Should everything check out, the team could be obligated to grab him.
Tagovailoa could benefit from being on a team like Los Angeles because he wouldn’t have to start Year 1 since they will have Philip Rivers or Tyrod Taylor as the starter in 2020, giving Tua enough time to sit and completely get back to full health for the 2021 season where he could then take the reins.