Mel Kiper Jr. explains his decision to drop Tua Tagovailoa in his latest mock draft
Mel Kiper Jr. was recently the latest analyst to suggest Tua Tagovailoa’s draft stock is falling as the longtime ESPN draft expert dropped the former Alabama quarterback in his updated mock draft.
Kiper still believes Tagovailoa will be a top 10 pick, however, he just doesn’t think the Dolphins will be the team to select the former All-SEC quarterback. Despite Miami being the team most rumored to be interested in Tagovailoa, former Oregon quarterback Justin Herbert has been a popular pick with the No. 5 overall selection in the 2020 NFL Draft for many draft pundits in recent days.
That’s how Kiper predicts the top of the 2020 NFL Draft to play out, too, as he has Herbert going No.5 and Tagovailoa going No. 6 in the updated mock draft.
During a recent appearance on ESPN program “NFL Live” Kiper was asked to share his logic in that prediction.
“If you look at Tua, the injury is the only factor in his durability moving forward as to why I put Herbert at No. 5, Tua to No. 6 with the LA Chargers,” Kiper answered.
When asked if these potential draft picks were his opinion or based on information he has received, Kiper noted that his picks are made after speaking with many sources on the subject.
“Everybody’s got different views and opinions. That’s why you talk to people,” Kiper added. “If you aren’t going to talk and listen to what they say, and put it in a mock, then why do this exercise? So it’s not about what I think or what my ratings are, it’s what you’re hearing and every team’s not gonna always be thinking the right thing.”
The longtime NFL Draft expert noted the same thing that many have been wondered after hearing this news, could Miami be putting this information out to protect the franchise’s real draft interest? That is something Kiper believes is possible.
“Maybe Miami’s just playing games here and let names get out there and who knows, we’ll find out,” Kiper continued. “That’s the whole illusion of the draft and that’s why that’s the element of the draft that makes it so much fun and so entertaining is we don’t know until those picks are made.
“But I think right now, what you’re hearing is Herbert maybe to Miami at five. Tua some say to he’s going to fall further than six. I just felt like I can’t believe that’s gonna happen, I think it would be a great fit, but there are some that feel he could drop out of the top 10. We’ll see come Thursday.”
It would be beneficial for the kid to not be drafted in the 1st Round. Too much speculation surrounding his injury. Early/late second round is a safe spot. The pressure wouldn’t be there as much and should he not develop immediately into an NFL starter, no1 would be shocked.
You’re stupid… The difference in money alone makes it not beneficial.
Listen Troll… It’s already understood what the compensation difference is between 1st and 2nd rounds are idiot..A person with any type of common sense doesn’t have to interject that statement in an obvious debate. Buttweed, it’s toothless people like you that race pigs on the weekend that will say, “yeah select him with the 4th pick!” Then when he doesn’t live up to 4th pick standards, you’ll distance yourself from your own statements and then try and rewrite history by saying, I never said he was a top 5 pick, what I said was he should be taken after the 4th person selected in the draft!
That’s a lot of venom. BamaTime should have aid your statement was stupid…not you. He will probably sit the first year no matter who picks him so being picked higher and getting more money would be beneficial. I guess Eric Bieniemy was too busy racing pigs to take over that garbage program at Colorado.
It’s not beneficial to lose out on first round money… You’re an idiot…
Do you NOT know the Rookie Cap Rule is in effect now? Only the Top 5 really get compensated by Signing Bonus. He’ll get selected in the 1st round and probably end up being traded before his Rookie Contract is up. Listen you Troll..Alabama works in the SEC or CFP..That uniform bears no meaning at the next level.
Again it’s not beneficial for him to lose money… You’re an idiot…
Oh and like usual you’re wrong… Go look at the pay and bonuses from last years draft..
You always post foolish, incorrect information….
He just makes it up as he goes along. Not sure why a Colorado fan is hanging out here anyway. He just gets blasted regularly. A glutton for punishment I guess.
No clue why he is here. He has shown time and again that he has no clue what he is talking about. He tries to troll but he’s so clueless nobody takes his garbage seriously…