The 2020 NFL Draft class was strengthened Monday when Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa officially announced he’s turning pro. This comes after three seasons with the Crimson Tide.
Tagovailoa helped lead Alabama to a College Football Playoff national championship in 2017 and was the Heisman Trophy runner-up in 2018. He’s not only an excellent passer but he also has the ability to pick up huge chunks of yards with his legs. His impressive dual-threat skill set should make him a good fit for today’s pro offenses.
Tua is officially one of the top quarterbacks in the 2020 NFL Draft.
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Interest in Tua Togavailoa
There should be no shortage of teams interested in drafting Tagovailoa, and he’s projected as a top 10 pick in just about every mock draft. LSU star and reigning Heisman Trophy winner Joe Burrow is expected to be selected No. 1 overall, but Tagovailoa could land as high as No. 5 to the Miami Dolphins or No. 6 to the Los Angeles Chargers.
The Patriots are an intriguing destination for Tagovailoa, and we know New England coach Bill Belichick has a strong relationship with Alabama coach Nick Saban. It’s unlikely the Patriots, who own the No. 23 pick in the first round, will have the chance to take Tagovailoa, but drafting a quarterback in 2020 is still possible for the AFC East franchise.
Sure, the Patriots drafted Auburn QB Jarrett Stidham in the fourth round last year, but let’s not forget they also selected Jacoby Brissett as a third-rounder in 2016. Plus, that was with quarterbacks Tom Brady and Jimmy Garoppolo already on the roster. It doesn’t hurt to have plenty of options at the sport’s most important position, especially with Brady’s contract set to expire soon and his future with the Patriots uncertain.
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Top Quarterbacks available in NFL Draft
Here are the top quarterbacks projected to be part of the 2020 draft class.
1. Joe Burrow, LSU
2. Tua Tagovailoa, Alabama
3. Justin Herbert, Oregon
4. Jordan Love, Utah State
5. Jake Fromm, Georgia
6. Jacob Eason, Washington
7. Bryce Perkins, Virginia
8. Jalen Hurts, Oklahoma
9. Nate Stanley, Iowa
10. Anthony Gordon, Washington State
This article was first published by NBC Sports.