Getty Image / Todd Kirkland
Tua Tagovailoa is set to announce whether he is returning to Alabama for his senior season or declare for the 2020 NFL Draft this upcoming Monday.
While most expect him to put his name into the Draft, it’s still unknown at this time what move he is going to make.
Chase Daniel, the former Missouri quarterback and now backup to Mitch Trubisky in Chicago has some pretty strong advice for Tagovailoa: run to the NFL. Daniel joined The Paul Finebaum Show on Friday and explained why it doesn’t make much sense for Tagovailoa to return to Alabama next season.
“I would say run as fast as you can, go to the National Football League,” Daniel said. The main thing is that if you come back and you get hurt there’s no first-round pick in your future. There are 32 teams in the NFL, it only takes one to fall in love with you.”
"Run as fast as you can to the NFL" Former @MizzouFootball star QB @ChaseDaniel with some frank advice for Tua Tagovailoa as decision day looms. pic.twitter.com/gCzYNP8kZH
— Paul Finebaum (@finebaum) January 3, 2020
Daniel couldn’t have made things any clearer here, especially with his injury history, Tagovailoa’s ceiling isn’t going to get any higher when it comes to being an NFL prospect. He suffered a serious hip injury earlier this season but is expected to make a full recovery.
Joe Burrow is going to be the first player off the board at the 2020 NFL Draft, but Tagovailoa could easily be the second quarterback taken off the board. With the potential of getting injured during his senior season with the Crimson Tide and risking never seeing that big payday that he’s due to have, it’s hard to find a reason for him to turn down the Draft.
There’s certainly a pride factor that could come into play with his decision in returning to school, but running to the NFL as Daniel explains sounds like the move.