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Detroit Lions: Tua Tagovailoa presents interesting draft scenarios

By Robert Jones

TUSCALOOSA, ALABAMA - NOVEMBER 09: Tua Tagovailoa #13 of the Alabama Crimson Tide attempts to escape pressure from Marcel Brooks #9 of the LSU Tigers during the first half in the game at Bryant-Denny Stadium on November 09, 2019 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
TUSCALOOSA, ALABAMA - NOVEMBER 09: Tua Tagovailoa #13 of the Alabama Crimson Tide attempts to escape pressure from Marcel Brooks #9 of the LSU Tigers during the first half in the game at Bryant-Denny Stadium on November 09, 2019 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)
(Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images) /

Tagovailoa creates opportunities

One year ago at this time, Lions fans would have jumped at the opportunity to get their hands on Tua Tagovailoa. This year, however, seems to be a different story. When the news was announced this past Monday that Tagovailoa would be entering the 2020 NFL draft, a friend of mine said, ‘He’s injured, why would we want him?’

My how one year changes everything. It’s interesting because first of all, no one has selected him yet and quite frankly there is plenty of time between now and April 23rd when the Lions will be on the clock with the third overall pick. We will learn much between now and then.

I think we all need to start with the assumption that Tagovailoa wouldn’t have declared himself for the draft had his medical feedback been dire. There will be examinations that he will have to go through and the results will be in the hands of every team in the league.

Including the Detroit Lions.

If Tagovailoa has medical issues, he won’t be able to hide them. Then it will become much clearer how much or little of a risk drafting him will be.

Assuming he knows what he’s doing and is getting good advice from his corner, that would make Tagovailoa a viable top-three pick. This means the Lions will have two courses of action open to them.

They could use the pick to select Tagovailoa or they could trade down if they can get a king’s ransom to do so. Anything shy of a king’s ransom shouldn’t even be a consideration. This is assuming that nothing changes with the top two picks as they are projected to happen.

It is expected that the Bengals will use the first pick on LSU quarterback Joe Burrow. Their second-year head coach, Zac Taylor, is very much an offensive coach and will be looking to find a new signal-caller so they can move on from Andy Dalton.

Then it would be a huge shock if Washington didn’t use the second pick on Ohio State defensive end, Chase Young. Especially given that their new head coach, Ron Rivera, played and coached defense in the NFL and will absolutely want to get a difference-maker like Young.

That would leave the Lions with the rights to Tagovailoa and an opportunity to really make some noise.

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