Should Tua Tagovailoa’s injuries affect his draft stock in April?
Tua Tagovailoa. A name which has rested comfortably atop draft boards since leading the Alabama Crimson Tide to a second quarter comeback in the national title game. On pace for over 4000 yards and nearly 50 touchdowns, the Heisman trophy hopeful is putting together another fantastic season, continuing to build his draft profile.
Tagovailoa has always displayed athleticism and arm talent during his time with the Crimson Tide. Being able to evade would be sacks is a common theme for Tagovailoa when the strong and talented Alabama offensive line occasionally allows heavy pressure. Even under pressure, Tua is able to keep his eyes down field and make throws on the run with exceptional accuracy. When there is not an option available down the field, Tagovailoa is able to use his legs to gain yardage and extend plays. All the while, still protecting his body by sliding or running out of bounds better than many quarterbacks his age.
However, when do the injuries that Tagovailoa have sustained impact how he is evaluated by NFL scouts? Bleacher Report writer, Matt Miller, has been in contact with several NFL Scouts and the consensus remains that Tua Tagovailoa is the best 2020 quarterback prospect, despite knee and ankle sprains over the last two years. From where I sit, however, these injuries do matter. When an organization is investing an early round pick, and early round money, in a quarterback, longevity must be in consideration. What does his injury history tell us about his potential future health?
The injuries Tagovailoa has sustained over the past couple of seasons have been on plays where his ankle got rolled up on. Now that does not necessarily indicate Tua as an injury prone player, however it is nonetheless concerning. How will these injuries affect the long term durability of his ankles and knees in the NFL?
Not all high ankle sprains require surgical repair, in fact, it’s not always the best option. New York Giants running back, Saquon Barkley, suffered a high ankle sprain earlier this season just as Tagovailoa did, and did not require surgery. Typically, surgery to repair a high ankle sprain is only performed if there is separation of the bones that form the ankle (tibia and fibula), or if there is soft tissue or cartilage damage, which is an indication of a grade three sprain. Both of these outcomes can cause long-term pain and stiffness. Furthermore, although the recovery time is shorter with the Tightrope procedure, it can also increase the risk of fractures in the future.
More on high ankle sprains – (https://www.ortho.wustl.edu/content/Education/3636/Patient-Education/Educational-Materials/High-Ankle-Sprain-Dr-Matava.aspx)
Potential fracture outcomes-
Former Alabama star, Cam Robinson, also had the Tightrope procedure performed in college, and since then has suffered multiple ankle injuries and an ACL tear. My point being, that the surgery is not a 100% fix; ankle and knee injuries should still be a concern looking forward.
Tua Tagovailoa is currently in an ideal situation, behind an offensive line that bolsters quality NFL talent that limit the amount of pressure and QB hits sustained. At the next level, Tagovailoa will presumably be taken by the Dolphins or Bengals, both teams with less than ideal offensive line units. It will be very important for teams to protect Tagovailoa early in order to ensure the long term health of their new franchise player.
Tua Tagovailoa is a phenomenal prospect, worthy of a premier pick, but a quarterback needy team should be wary of the long term health of the franchise hopeful. Without adequate protection, selecting Tagovailoa high becomes a huge gamble. Protecting a franchise quarterback should be a team’s top priority, unfortunately, we have seen many teams ignore this in recent years, in order to bolster other positions. A few examples being Tony Romo, Cam Newton, and Deshaun Watson, Sam Darnold, and many more who have all taken unnecessary hits that have or will impact impact future health if these hits continue. If the young quarterback is not protected, I do not believe he would be worthy of a top pick due to his long term durability concerns. The team that prioritizes protecting the Alabama quarterback, will have a star player that is capable of leading a team for many years to come.
