Byron Jewell | April 18th, 2020
Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Alabama #13
Height: 6’0”
Weight: 217 pounds
Eligibility: Junior
Games watched: South Carolina (2019), Auburn (2018), Texas A&M (2018 & 2019), LSU, (2019), Clemson (2018), Oklahoma (2018)
Make sure to check out all of our other scouting reports here.
Short-Mid Accuracy: 10/10 – Tagovailoa is primarily a precision passer. Has ridiculous ball placement in this area of the field. His quick trigger and processing skills allow him to hit his receivers in tight windows and isn’t afraid to throw over the middle of the field. Played in a West Coast offense in 2019 at Alabama which requires quick tempo passes and sharp accuracy, so he’s very comfortable here.
Deep Accuracy: 9.5/10 – He can throw a really nice deep ball. He can lead his receivers past the top of the defense with ease and has a natural ability to guide his pass catchers to open spots in coverage. He has ideal arm velocity and excellent ball-placement.
https://twitter.com/nflfilmreview/status/1248699128051351553?s=21
Decision Making: 8.5/10 – Very comfortable reading the field and trusts his receivers. Super intelligent passer and knows what to do but often likes to extend plays and it cost him with injuries. Just needs to settle and hit the check down option if the play is over.
Arm Strength/Talent: 9/10 – Pretty good arm strength, not rare though. Can definitely push the ball downfield with no problem and has nice zip on the ball. Can throw it in really tight windows and spots with plenty of juice, especially within the pocket.
Pocket Management: 7.5/10 – This is a tricky area for Tagovailoa. He has a great awareness of when rushers are collapsing the pocket and knows how to manage it well with his great footwork. He can even make the first guy miss with his ability to slide throughout with quick feet but sometimes likes to leave the pocket and make a play when it’s unnecessary, leading to injuries or forced throws.
Mechanics: 8/10 – A very small hitch will appear in some of his throws but I don’t think it’s concerning and overall he has a clean throwing motion. It really starts from the feet up and he has a quick delivery as well. Tagovailoa is set to become the first lefty-passer to start in the league since Kellen Moore in 2015.
Touch: 9.5/10 – The touch he can put on his passes is rare. I’ve mentioned already that Tagovailoa is a precision passer, and with that comes a natural ability to be able to throw the ball at any spot, in all three levels of the field. He knows how to adjust his arm strength on different passes and can lay a ball in a receiver’s hands in stride with ease. Excellent in this area.
Anticipation: 9.5/10 – Has elite anticipation and foresight when receivers are running through different coverages. Knows exactly when to throw the ball and is super accurate. Goes hand in hand with great touch as he’s excellent at putting the ball in the receiver’s hands while in stride going across the field or over the shoulder.
Mobility: 7/10 – Not an elite athlete by any means. He’s gonna be hesitant to escape the pocket in the NFL due to his durability issues over the past years, but he can definitely keep a play alive with surprising short-area quickness. Don’t expect him to be a dual-threat in the NFL.
Processing/Progressions: 9.5/10 – Very sharp and crisp here. He can manipulate a defense with his eyes and understands the importance of doing so. Played in a vertical scheme in 2018, followed by a West Coast offense in 2019, so he knows how to make a wide variety of reads and progressions. Very intelligent passer.
Can install multiple RPO throws for #Alabama QB Tua Tagovailoa in the #NFL…
Glance, slant, seam, in-breaker. Quick release to get the ball out with speed + location. Attack man-coverage, target tight windows vs. zone. @NFLMatchup pic.twitter.com/K0c970ovv3
— Matt Bowen (@MattBowen41) April 9, 2020
Overall: 88/100
NFL Comparison: Drew Brees
Draft Projection: Top-10
Top Team Fits: Chargers, Dolphins, Jaguars
Tagovailoa is an elite passer, with great accuracy, excellent touch, rare intangibles, and great footwork. He’s a little short and his biggest area of concern is his durability issues but he’s confident those issues are behind him now. He has a great understanding of different styles of offense, specifically the West Coast offense, where he’ll be most effective in the NFL. He’s a potential franchise quarterback and face of the franchise.
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