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

Could the decision be made for Quinn?

Every draft pick or even free-agent signing has an upside and a downside. Despite all the talent and leadership ability that Tua Tagovailoa has, his injuries are a question. In Detroit, there is also the fact that Matthew Stafford absolutely thrived in offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell’s scheme last season.

If not for the season-ending injury, Matthew would have finished the year as one of the top passers in the league and been a potential MVP candidate.

Whether the Lions should take Tagovailoa or not is a valid debate. I think, if healthy, he will be a franchise quarterback capable of carrying an NFL team. Possibly even a team that has been as poor as the Lions for the past 60 plus years.

But if Tagovailoa is the pick, the Lions will have to be prepared to commit 100% to him and build around him for the future. That doesn’t mean that Matt Patricia should just throw him in the fire. The best thing in the world for Tagovailoa is a chance to spend next season on the bench learning from a veteran quarterback while continuing to allow his body extra time to get completely right.

But as a friend of mine said the other day while I was speaking to him on the phone, maybe the best thing that could happen to the Lions is that the Dolphins or Chargers make a trade with Washington for the number two pick, then select Tagovailoa.

That would not only take the decision out of Bob Quinn’s hands, but it would also allow the Lions to pick Ohio State defensive end Chase Young, who would immediately fill a huge need for an edge rusher.

I agree that would probably be the best-case scenario for the Lions, but I can’t say I’m overly optimistic it will occur.

Life is full of hard choices and in less than two weeks Bob Quinn will have to make those hard choices for the Detroit Lions. Ultimately if whomever he picks becomes part of making the Lions legitimate contenders, then it will be the right choice. Anything less than that will just add to the failure this franchise has continually suffered since their last championship in 1957.