Todd McShay shares post-Combine thoughts on where Tua Tagovailoa will be drafted
By SDS Staff
Published:
With Joe Burrow the presumptive No. 1 pick, arguably the quarterback storyline with the most drama heading into the upcoming draft centers around where Tua Tagovailoa will be drafted.
ESPN’s Todd McShay recently projected Tagovailoa at the No. 5 pick to the Miami Dolphins in his latest mock draft. On a recent conference call with media members, McShay was asked if he would draft Tagovailoa at No. 2. The Washington Redskins hold the No. 2 pick and recently made headlines when new coach Ron Rivera said the team was doing more than “due diligence” by meeting with Tagovailoa (and Burrow) at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis.
“Yes, I would. But I would have to have a lot more information on the medical,” McShay said. “But if my doctors were saying that he is progressing and we don’t forecast it being an issue moving forward then yeah, I would think long and hard about (not) passing on Tua Tagovailoa because if he’s healthy — and I know he’s going to be healthy — I put him right up there with (Joe) Burrow. And I’ve said before I would lean Tua over Burrow because I think he’s special.”
McShay, who in late February said he would take a fully healthy Tagovailoa over Burrow, realizes his view differs from that of Washington owner Dan Snyder.
“… But the reality is Daniel Snyder’s not going to let that happen as the owner, from what I understand,” McShay continued on the call. “He thinks Dwayne Haskins is the guy and they’re going to build around him and see where they can go. Whether that’s true or not, we’ll find out. But clearly, Daniel Snyder has a history with Haskins and loves him, and they, as an organization, brought him and want him to be the guy. I think he can be developed. I think he can be a solid starter.
“I just think Tua, if I knew he was going to be healthy, I think that Tua’s going to wind up being a better quarterback. And it’s the most important in this game, and it makes up for more sins than any other position. So, if you have an opportunity to upgrade that position, how do you not?”
All will be settled on April 23 in Las Vegas. Until then, we can expect to hear a lot more speculation about Tagovailoa’s NFL home.
[H/T Bama OnLine]
Saturday Down South reports and comments on the news around the Southeastern Conference as well as larger college football topics.
