Matt Leinart on drafting Tua Tagovailoa: ‘I don’t think it’s a gamble at all’
By Adam Spencer
Published:
Heading into the 2020 NFL Draft, Alabama QB Tua Tagovailoa is one of the top quarterbacks, but there are some injury concerns surrounding him.
However, former USC QB and 2004 Heisman Trophy winner Matt Leinart said on the FOX Football Now show on Monday night that he would love to draft the Alabama star if he were an NFL GM.
When asked if he would draft Tagovailoa later this month, Leinart didn’t hesitate to say he would (via 247Sports):
“Yeah, I would,” said Leinart. “I don’t think it’s a gamble at all. And I understand the injury concern. Look, we all played the sport of football. Injuries are going to happen. And I would just say this — we have to trust the doctors and medical staff, and it appears that he’s clearing all of the medical hurdles so far this offseason. I even, in a way, think, in this crazy time that we’re in, it allows him to rest and continue to rehab and get ready for what we hope the NFL season comes in the fall.
“But I would just say this about Tua — he’s a star, he’s a superstar and what he was able to do at Alabama, week in and week out, against NFL players, you’ve got to remember, he’s facing NFL pass rushers, elite athletes, linebackers, DBs. I mean, he almost beat LSU last year, the defending national champ, on one leg. So he is so talented, Curt, and the physical traits are there. The football IQ, he obviously has a great work ethic, he’s competitive. I’m not as concerned. I think we’re always concerned with injuries. I just think this guy’s too good to pass up on.”
That’s high praise for Tua, and it seems likely that at least one NFL team picking in the top 10 will agree.
We’ll find out where Tua goes on Thursday, April 23.
Adam is a daily fantasy sports (DFS) and sports betting expert. A 2012 graduate of the University of Missouri, Adam now covers all 16 SEC football teams. He is the director of DFS, evergreen and newsletter content across all Saturday Football brands.
