Tua Tagovailoa was just taken with the No. 5 pick of the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft by the Miami Dolphins. Here is how I see the Alabama football gunslinger fitting in on the roster.
Tua Tagovailoa took Alabama football to new heights in his three years and completely redefined what the QB position could be under Nick Saban. Prior to his arrival, Alabama football won with competent, but not overly impressive, QB play.
Nick Saban wants a QB to do two things, protect the ball and take what the defense gives. Tua did both of those things at an elite level and added in a consistency at completing downfield throws.
Many people thought before the season that Tua would be the first QB off the board, but after a season filled with injuries and Joe Burrow’s meteoric rise he settled in as the second QB taken. Tua is a player that can make any roster better and can be a good fit in almost any offensive scheme so he can really help the Dolphins going forward.
He will be coming off a devastating hip injury, but he has looked good in the few workouts he has been able to complete since being cleared to throw in March. Tua will most likely not start the season as the starter. It is possible that he takes over the starting job partway through the year. It is just as likely that he doesn’t play at all in year 1.
Tua can take this first season to learn from a very smart QB in Ryan Fitzpatrick. The former Harvard grad knows the QB position and though he hasn’t had consistent NFL success he is regarded highly as a student of the game.
I have said since the season ended that the Dolphins would be the best place for Tua to land. The main reason is the fact that Miami has five first round picks total in this draft and the 2021 draft. This means they have the ability to surround him not just with young talent, but elite young talent.
Not to mention that they also have the sixth most cap space with $22.8 million available to sign free agents. Tua will be ready to make an impact as soon as the Dolphins want him to take the field. We will see who the Dolphins take later in the draft to help their newest QB succeed.
Congratulations to Tua Tagovailoa. I look forward to watching him in the NFL. Stay tuned here to Bama Hammer to watch all of the Alabama players as they are picked.