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Tua Tagovailoa declares for 2020 NFL Draft

By Nicholas McGee

TUSCALOOSA, ALABAMA - NOVEMBER 09: Tua Tagovailoa #13 of the Alabama Crimson Tide throws a pass during the second half against the LSU Tigers in the game at Bryant-Denny Stadium on November 09, 2019 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)
TUSCALOOSA, ALABAMA - NOVEMBER 09: Tua Tagovailoa #13 of the Alabama Crimson Tide throws a pass during the second half against the LSU Tigers in the game at Bryant-Denny Stadium on November 09, 2019 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images) /
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Tua Tagovailoa is heading to the pros, the Alabama quarterback putting an end to the speculation and declaring for the 2020 NFL Draft.

Tua Tagovailoa is heading to the NFL after announcing his decision to declare for the 2020 draft.

Tagovailoa confirmed he would turn pro in a press conference on Monday, his decision following weeks of speculation over the possibility of him returning to Alabama for another season.

Instead of going back to Tuscaloosa, Tagovailoa has opted to end his college career following a season in which a dislocated hip robbed him of the chance to lead Alabama to another National Championship.

Returning to school and playing another season without pay would have carried a significant risk for Tagovailoa following a serious injury. The attention now will turn to his pre-draft process, in which the medical opinions of the teams interested in selecting a quarterback will be critical.

If there are no issues with the medicals, then there is little to prevent Tagovailoa from being selected in the first round.

His hopes of being the number one pick are gone. Barring a substantial shock, that honor will go to LSU’s Joe Burrow. Tagovailoa may also hear the name of Oregon’s Justin Herbert called before his.

However, NFL front offices have witnessed Tagovailoa play up to his incredible potential on the biggest stages in college football. Burrow is the only other quarterback in the class who can claim to have the same upside as a healthy Tagovailoa and, despite the unfortunate end to his Alabama career, NFL teams will be queuing up to bet on that upside.

Tagovailoa may have been tempted to finish what he started at Alabama on his terms, but he can now look forward to being selected high in the draft, becoming the face of a franchise and recovering from his injury knowing he will be properly compensated. It may pain Tagovailoa to leave the Crimson Time, but his decision to go pro is the correct one.

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