NFL Draft 2020: Dolphins choose high-risk, high-reward with Tua Tagovailoa

With the fifth pick overall in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft, the Miami Dolphins quieted speculation and drafted quarterback Tua Tagovailoa.

In the weeks leading up to the 2020 NFL Draft, there was a lot of speculation surrounding who the Miami Dolphins would choose to join their team first with the fifth overall pick. Would they pass on Tua Tagovailoa because of his past injuries, or do they take advantage of the desperate need for a quarterback and draft the talented Alabama quarterback?

They chose the latter and drafted Tagovailoa.

Tua came to Alabama from Hawaii where he was the Hawaii High School Player of the Year in 2016 and began his collegiate career as the backup quarterback to Jalen Hurts. He had the opportunity to showcase his talents and he capitalized on the opportunity. He finished his freshman year with 49 completions of 77 attempts for 636 yards, 11 touchdowns and just two interceptions.

He started every game of the 2018 season and posted 245 completions for 3,966 yards, 43 touchdowns and six interceptions for an impressive 199.4 rating on the season. Tua earned many awards and accolades in 2018, including the 2018 SEC Offensive Player of the Year.

Unfortunately, his junior year was cut short due to injuries. The first was a high ankle sprain and his season-ending injury came in the game against Mississippi State when he suffered a dislocated hip and fractured posterior wall, in addition to a broken nose and concussion.

The Alabama star had surgery to repair the hip injury and chose to end his career at Alabama when he declared for the draft. Despite his shortened season, he posted 180 completions of 252 attempts for 2,840 yards, 33 touchdowns and three interceptions.

Tagovailoa was favored to be one of the top picks in the draft in the preseason and despite a season-ending injury he performed well and was cleared by multiple doctors prior to the draft.

Miami was in desperate need of a quarterback and Tagovailoa is a dual-threat with a proven winning history.

Grade: A+

In my mock draft, I predicted Tua would go to Miami with the fifth pick, and I stood by that decision when I later did a draft profile for him.  My instincts proved to be correct and Tagovailoa will now call Miami home.