Amid debates over whether the Lions should draft Tua Tagovailoa third overall, another question has been overlooked: Would Tua want to play for the Lions?
The answer is no, according to those close to the Alabama quarterback.
Because of the Lions' downward trajectory under Matt Patricia and the fact that a new coach could be in charge by 2021, the Tagovailoas don't consider Detroit a good landing spot for Tua, according to the
Miami Herald:
Sources close to Tagovailoas say the Alabama quarterback would love for the Dolphins to trade up to No. 3 to select him. Those same sources say they don’t love the idea of Detroit actually picking Tua because of the arc of that team’s current coaching situation.
The Lions will be playing their third season under Matt Patricia in 2020. He has a 9-22-1 record his first two seasons and the Tagovailoas are concerned another poor season could force the Lions to fire Patricia -- putting the quarterback in the uncertain 2021 situation of being a draft pick the new coach didn’t make.
The Lions aren't seen as favorites to draft Tagovailoa, anyway. They have their quarterback in place in Matthew Stafford, Patricia and Bob Quinn are under a win-now mandate in 2020 and the team has bigger needs on defense.
Detroit has been linked frequently to Ohio State cornerback Jeffrey Okudah and Auburn defense tackle Derrick Brown. Clemson linebacker Isaiah Simmons could be in their sights as well.
Nevertheless, the Tagovailoa option remains on the table. The Lions could groom him under Stafford and then look to deal Stafford next offseason when it won't cripple their cap situation. It's an idea ESPN
draft analyst Mel Kiper agrees with.
But if Tua has no interest in Detroit, the Lions may decide against it altogether.
