The Detroit Lions must draft Tua Tagovailoa if healthy

WHAT ABOUT STAFFORD?

This is not an attack on the current starting quarterback Matthew Stafford, who put an awful 2018 season behind him. In the eight games that Stafford played this season, he looked really good – bordering on excellent.

But the injury to Stafford’s back did keep him from playing the second half of the season. And that cannot be ignored, as this team became irrelevant once he couldn’t play.

Bob Quinn needs to look at the next decade of this franchise and not just the next year. And in all likelihood, Tagovailoa might not play at all in 2020. That might be due to the injury, and that might be due to a team sitting Tua for a year and letting him adjust to the pro game.

With Stafford under contract for three more seasons, he is the perfect bridge to allow Tagovailoa a year (maybe even two) to learn and get healthy. Stafford is a good quarterback, but Tua has the skill set to be a game-changer at the position.

If Tagovailoa’s health is too questionable, not drafting him is understandable. But if Tua goes on to be an elite player at the most important position on the field, how can the Detroit Lions pass on him?

The easier path is just to keep building the roster. And try and help Stafford with a better defense. But free agency and the additional six rounds of the draft can be focused on those issues.

If the Detroit Lions draft Tua, it would be hard on Matthew. And probably mean that the Lions would be looking to trade him in 2021. It is likely that Stafford would handle the situation in a professional manner – play hard, try to win, and do everything possible to keep Tua on the bench.

But if Matthew continues to play as well as he did last year, his career will still have many good options beyond next season. In reality, the Detroit Lions cannot count on Stafford staying healthy at this point. So, drafting Tua is a necessity, not just a luxury.