2020 NFL Draft: Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa scouting report

As an overall quarterback prospect, Tagovailoa has shown to be one of the highest producing passers in collegiate football. He has led Alabama to numerous postseason successes and has quite the resume for this upcoming draft.

Tua Tagovailoa is not going to succeed unless he is able to develop his pre and post-snap reads. Elite pocket passers like Drew Brees and Brady have made their living by making the perfect play call and protection outside of the huddle. This is what makes the difference between elite and “good” quarterbacks.

Tagovailoa will never have the athleticism of some of his fellow prospects, and that is not an issue. Tagovailoa needs to focus on playing his game and growing in the areas that will help him perform within his offensive system. A quality coaching staff will build an offense around Tagovailoa similar to Alabama, getting the ball to the wide areas of the field and giving their quarterback easy completions.

The one situation that will almost certainly harm Tagovailoa is to be immediately put under center in a non-complimentary system with a lack of talent and coaching on the offensive line. Already having issues with fearing pressure, Tagovailoa could very well be scarred from a poor experience behind some of the horrendous offensive lines at the top of the draft.

Would I rank Tagovailoa as the top quarterback in his class? He is likely the most NFL-ready prospect at the position in this year’s draft, but may not have the same ceiling as his more athletic counterparts.

I would likely see Tagovailoa’s ceiling as a consistent pro bowler with playoff success. If he were to win a Super Bowl, he would need to be surrounded by talent and be placed within a West Coast, run and gun scheme. With some of the teams at the top of this year’s draft, I doubt that would happen on his rookie deal (ex: Jared Goff) unless there was a major turn around or another team that makes their bid for Tua Tagovailoa.