The New England Patriots could target Tua Tagovailoa after all.
According to Mel Kiper, NFL Draft expert at ESPN, the Patriots could be “aggressive” if the University of Alabama quarterback slips in the 2020 NFL Draft.
“It’s going to be the million dollar question,” Kiper said Friday during an appearance on WEEI’s “Ordway, Merloni & Fauria” show, as transcribed by Ryan Hannable. “That’s the whole intrigue and the element of the draft that you just can’t figure is these types of things. You hear people, and I know everyone is screaming that Tua has to go high, you have to take that risk. And then you hear people in the league saying he could fall and everybody is doing their due diligence, including the Patriots. You can rest assured, if he gets into the middle of the first round and you’re sitting there at No. 23, wouldn’t you jump up and maybe get him? You know the connection with Bill Belichick and Nick Saban. And I know how Nick feels about Tua.”
Tagovailoa has emerged as an enigma of sorts. While some are enamored by his skill set and potential, others are turned off by his injury history. His potential has many pegging him to be the second quarterback selected in the draft after likely No. 1 overall pick Joe Burrow. However, his durability concerns have many questioning whether or not he'll even be selected in the top five of the 2020 NFL Draft.
Despite his durability concerns, Kiper dismissed that notion, saying “quarterbacks don't get hurt.”
“If you go from Tom Brady to Tua, a healthy Tua. Now, that is the thing — can you keep him healthy? People say, ‘Well, everybody gets hurt.’ Quarterbacks don’t get hurt. Brady had the one injury when (Matt) Cassel came in. (Dan) Marino had the Achilles one year. Most of these quarterbacks, Eli (Manning) played forever, (Philip) Rivers, (John) Elway, (Jim) Kelly, when do these guys get hurt? The quarterbacks, when do they get hurt? This guy has had significant injuries, so to me, if he starts slipping a little bit, sliding down, where it happened with Aaron Rodgers not that long ago, and he was projected to be No. 1 two weeks before that draft and he went in the 20s, yes, if it did happen, I would think New England would be aggressive to try and go up and get him.”
The Patriots currently have journeyman Brian Hoyer and former fourth-round draft selection Jarrett Stidham as their quarterbacks. That's hardly a flattering situation entering 2020.
As Kiper says, don't be surprised if the Patriots take a chance on Tagovailoa. Especially considering Bill Belichick's connection with Tua's college coach, Nick Saban.
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