Mel Kiper Jr. explains his decision to drop Tua Tagovailoa in his latest mock draft
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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.”
A graduate of the University of Tennessee, Michael Wayne Bratton oversees the news coverage for Saturday Down South. Michael previously worked for FOX Sports and NFL.com
