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Tua Tagovailoa is the great mystery in this year’s NFL Draft. While the former Alabama quarterback has all the skills physically and mentally to be the face of a franchise, he’s got lingering health issues that have some franchises concerned about his long-term prognosis. The most glaring injury is the dislocated hip Tua sustained last season, which derailed his chance at a Heisman Trophy, as well as the Tide’s chances of winning a national title.
Fast-forward to present time, and nobody knows for sure what to make of Tagovailoa. Some mock drafts have him going No. 2 to Washington Redskins or No. 3 to the Detroit Lions — who may be looking to move on from Matthew Stafford. Others think Tua could fall somewhere between picks 5-7, where the Miami Dolphins, Los Angeles Chargers and Carolina Panthers sit, respectively, with each team having uncertain futures at quarterback.
But there could be another team boldly looking to pounce on Tua Tagovailoa as others struggle to figure out what he is and what kind of NFL player he may become. That team? The New England Patriots, who, per the Boston Globe, could be in play to trade up to snatch him.
The idea comes from the Globe‘s Ben Volin, who recently wrote a piece about a scenario outlining how the Pats could draft Tua in order to replace Tom Brady — who, as we all know, left to sign with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Here’s what Volin had to say, citing New England head coach Bill Belichick’s relationships with both the Lions’ brass and Tua’s college head coach, Nick Saban.
Wouldn’t it be just like Bill Belichick to swoop in and snag Tua away from the rest of the league? Wouldn’t getting Tua be the big, bold move the Patriots love, and wouldn’t it ease the sting of seeing Brady go?
By my calculations, it’s definitely possible. In fact, the stars seem to be aligning.
If the NFL Draft goes according to projections, the Detroit Lions control Tua’s future. LSU quarterback Joe Burrow should go No. 1 to Cincinnati, and Ohio State pass rusher Chase Young should go No. 2 to Washington, which would leave Tua’s fate in the hands of Lions general manager Bob Quinn and coach Matt Patricia.
The Lions are expected to be open for business with that No. 3 pick, with a coach and GM who are on the hottest of hot seats for 2020, and aren’t in the market to use a top pick on a quarterback coming off a major injury.
And that opens the door for the Patriots. Quinn spent 16 years in Foxborough, and Patricia 14. Since Quinn became Lions GM in 2016, the Patriots and Lions have made four player trades (including Kyle Van Noy in 2016 and Duron Harmon two weeks ago), and three draft-day trades. Belichick and Patricia still vacation together. And who knows? If Quinn and Patricia are fired after 2020, maybe they end up back in Foxborough.
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The Patriots also have the inside track with the Lions, and maybe they don’t need to overwhelm the Lions to make it happen. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported this week that the Dolphins may not be sold on Tua. Dolphins owner Stephen Ross said the same thing during the Super Bowl.
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But Tua is the guy the Patriots should want. And between Belichick’s relationship with Saban and his relationship with the Lions, the Patriots could have what it takes to get him.
Given the fact that Matt Patricia’s in win-now mode in order to save his own job with the Lions, and Belichick has that preexisting relationship with Saban, don’t be surprised if the Pats really do make a play for Tua Tagovailoa. A far-fetched as it may seem, and it’s currently peak smokescreen season before the NFL Draft, there’s nobody sneakier than Belichick when it comes to things like this — so we all might just have to keep hatin’ on the Patriots for another couple decades if he pulls off this trade.