2020 NFL Mock Draft: Post-2019 college football season edition

5. Miami Dolphins: Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Alabama

Miami gets to pick their quarterback of the future without trading up in this mock draft. With two other first-round picks, they have the capital to trade up if necessary. Ideally, they would take Tua at No. 5 and work around the board to get other weapons later in the first round.

Tua’s health is definitely a concern, but he appears to be on track to still have a strong NFL career. We will learn more at the NFL combine, so this is mostly speculation. He could take a year off and redshirt, meaning the Dolphins would likely get another year of Ryan Fitzpatrick at quarterback. They could then work on their young talent, get one more draft class, and look to take over the division once Tom Brady is finally out of New England.

Tua has all the leadership qualities you want. He’s also incredibly accurate at all levels of the field. If health wasn’t a concern, he could easily be the first quarterback drafted. However, a major injury to both of his ankles, his knee, and his hip are just too much to use a first overall pick for.

My main questions outside of his current injuries are longevity and mobility. Tua could scramble out of the pocket as a true freshman, but can he still do that? It might not be worth the risk of another injury. I’m also not sure if there’s going to be arthritis in his hip. I hope he can be completely healthy for an extended NFL career, but I don’t have the crystal ball to make those guarantees.