NFL Draft news: Tua Tagovailoa being compared to 7-time Pro Bowl QB

Tua Tagovailoa is an enigmatic prospect. However, it's undeniable that his ceiling could be high. He's being compared to Seattle Seahawks QB Russell Wilson.

Tua Tagovailoa may have his share of detractors, but he also has his share of supporters.

Pundits and observers are mixed on the University of Alabama quarterback's future in the NFL. Some believe he'll be a total bust, while others believe he's a once-in-a-generation type of talent. Such mixed opinion has led to the belief that the former National Champion could fall out of the top five or six selections.

However, according to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, Tagovailoa still believes he'll be selected within the first top five or six selections. Furthermore, one NFL executive believes the 22-year-old shows glimpses of seven-time Pro Bowl quarterback Russell Wilson.

“I'm hearing Tua remains confident that he will be among the top 5-6 picks in next week's draft,” Fowler said Sunday morning on ESPN's SportsCenter. “Now, the medical remains the wild card here. Teams have not shown their hands. They'll do just about anything in that top 10. And here's a reason why so many execs I've spoken to believe, at the end of the day, he will be a top-10 pick — he's got shades of (Seattle Seahawks veteran quarterback) Russell Wilson in his game. One exec told me he just is made for the modern game. He plays really fast.”

Tagovailoa's injury history has been a major concern for NFL teams entering the draft. He suffered a dislocated hip and fractured the posterior wall during his final season at Alabama, leading to surgery. He only played one full season in college during his sophomore campaign in 2018.

However, his skills on the field are undeniable. Former NFL QB and current ESPN analyst Trent Dilfer called Tua the “greatest prospect” he's ever seen.

“It's all this stuff, you mix it together and I think he's the single greatest prospect I've ever seen,” he told CBS Sports national writer and 247Sports director of scouting Barton Simmons recently in an expansive interview for 247Sports' Social Distance series. “I know I've had some comments taken out of context, but he throws a football as well as I've seen a guy throw a football.”

With the 2020 NFL Draft on the horizon, we'll see if teams agree on that assessment.