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Detroit Lions: Does high praise from Trent Dilfer warrant another look at Tua?

By Robert Jones

TUSCALOOSA, ALABAMA - NOVEMBER 09: Tua Tagovailoa #13 of the Alabama Crimson Tide throws a pass during the first half against the LSU Tigers 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 throws a pass during the first half against the LSU Tigers 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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Trent Dilfer, Baltimore Ravens (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
Trent Dilfer, Baltimore Ravens (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /

Dilfer believes that Tagovailoa is a special player

Last Thursday former NFL and Super Bowl-winning quarterback Trent Dilfer made the eye-opening statement to the Washington Post that Tagovailoa could throw the ball better than Hall of Fame quarterback Dan Marino or current Packer great Aaron Rodgers. This was of course very high praise.

The fact he also mentioned that whoever got Tagovailoa would win the draft was equally as bold a statement.

Now even though Trent Dilfer did win the Super Bowl with the Baltimore Ravens in 2000, it was the Ravens defense that carried Baltimore to that championship. Dilfer was asked to do nothing more than manage the offense and not turn the ball over.

Dilfer who was the sixth overall selection by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 1994 draft never lived up his lofty draft status but was able to carve out a 14-year career in the NFL with hard work and being smart.

Dilfer became a very respected NFL analyst following his playing career so his words do carry some weight. However, in this case, it seemed like maybe he did get a bit carried away in his praise of Tagovailoa.

On Friday when asked about his comments, Dilfer did clarify to the Miami Herald that he thought Tagovailoa throws as well as Marino or Rodgers, not better. But he does believe Tua throws better than Rodgers did at this stage of his development.

One way or another Dilfer believes that Tagovailoa is a special player. Maybe we can chalk up Dilfer’s confidence in Tagovailoa due to the fact he has been training the former Alabama star. Or perhaps, regardless of what Dilfer has been able to contribute to Tagovailoa’s preparation for the NFL, it’s just the belief Tua Tagovailoa has all the tangibles and intangibles a quarterback needs to become a great player in the NFL.

However we wish to view it, Tagovailoa has been given very high praise and brings us right back to the original question; should Bob Quinn take a closer look at the possibility of selecting Tagovailoa and building the Lions future around him, despite the mandate to win now?

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