At the onset of the 2020 NFL Draft is the fact that one player above all others is dominating the conversation. Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is the subject of endless NFL Draft Betting speculation as to which team he will end up with. What is most interesting about Tua is the debate about his ability vs. durability. Of course, the wild card regarding Tagovailoa is a potential trade. Right now, the top two favorites to end up with Tua are the Miami Dolphins and the Los Angeles Chargers. Let’s examine the possibilities.
2020 NFL Draft Which Team Will Draft Tua Tagovailoa First
Date and Time: Thursday, April 23 through Saturday, April 25
2020 NFL Draft TV Coverage: NFL Network, ESPN, ABC
2020 NFL Draft First Pick CashBet Sportsbook Odds Team to Draft Tua Tagovailoa: Miami Dolphins -100, Los Angeles Chargers +150, Washington Redskins +850, Las Vegas Raiders +1500, Detroit Lions +1600, Carolina Panthers +2500, Jacksonville Jaguars +1400, Cincinnati Bengals +2100, Tampa Bay Buccaneers +4800
2020 NFL Draft Tua Tagovailoa Draft Position: Over 2.5 -300, Under 2.5 +220, Number One Pick +1900, Number Two Pick +210, Number Three Pick -110
Tua Tagovailoa 2020 NFL Draft Betting Analysis
There are a multitude of online betting factors to take into account as to where Tua will end up. Starting with team needs, current quarterbacks, and potential trades. The situation is so fluid that favorites can change based on any pre-draft trades. Hence some gamblers may end up with more than one bet as to where Tua ends up on Draft Night. One thing is for sure, he will go in the first round. It’s just a matter of where.
Tua Tagovailoa The Player
First it is important to take into account just what Tua Tagovailoa brings to the table. By all accounts he is the best dual threat quarterback available in the 2020 NFL Draft. Tua can beat defenses either with his arm or legs. More emphatically he will keep opposing defenses honest. Opponents will not be able to overload anything because Tagovailoa has the ability to beat them with something else.
It follows that Tua brings something that many fans, gamblers and draftniks often ignore. Despite his below average height and average arm strength he is the best deep ball passer in the 2020 NFL Draft. Tagovailoa has proven that you don’t need a rocket arm to be able to drop bombs on opposing defenses. In the same way his cool demeanor is seen as a major plus to NFL teams. Tua doesn’t get easily rattled. Against a strong pass rush, he shows superior navigation and coverage reads. Just as impressive is his ability to change velocity on throws.
The Elephant in the Room
Balanced against Tua’s ability is the legitimate concern about his durability. In two years as the Alabama Crimson Tide starting quarterback, he was unable to complete a full season. In 2018 he was knocked out of the SEC Championship Game. Last year he was lost in the ninth game of the year on a hit at Mississippi State. Further, in the 2018 national championship game loss to Clemson, Tagovailoa was rendered rather ordinary by a masterful defensive game plan.
NFL Scouts have not forgotten about that. Durability remains the biggest NFL Draft Betting concern regarding Tua. In view of the long grind of the NFL season and superior defensive personnel his ability to go the distance is doubted by many.
Overall Tua absolutely wowed NFL scouts on his workout date. This has tipped the scales ion his favor. And has helped turn the tide on the durability issue.
Chargers or Dolphins?
Both the Miami Dolphins and Los Angeles Chargers have serious problems filling their stadiums. In turn they have serious credibility gaps with their fan bases. Miami has not been bashful about their desire to take Tua. Of course, Tua would be a major draw in Los Angeles with its large Hawaiian population. But at the end of the day it’s looking more like Tagovailoa will take his talents to Miami.