At the NFL scouting combine in February, Redskins coach Ron Rivera refused to rule out using the second overall pick on quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, even with 2019 first-rounder Dwayne Haskins on the roster. The comment fueled speculation whether Tagovailoa would be drafted that high.
Now months later, with the draft weeks away, Tagovailoa’s stock may not be as high as previously thought.
Bleacher Report’s Matt Miller reported recently that some NFL teams have concerns about the Alabama quarterback — even beyond the injuries Tagovailoa suffered in college. Multiple clubs, according to the report, have Tagovailoa ranked as the third-best or fourth-best quarterback in this draft.
“It’s not all injuries,” Miller wrote. “One team source explained that they have knocked Tua for an all-world supporting cast that often saved him when plays broke down. Another mentioned poor interviews and board work during scouting combine meetings.”
Tagovailoa is coming off a hip fracture which cut his college career short. But the 22-year-old has reportedly received medical clearance from his doctors to resume football activities, and in recent weeks, has uploaded videos of himself throwing for people to see.
Miller cites multiple league sources who believe the Redskins aren’t considering a quarterback at No. 2. The team traded for former Panthers backup Kyle Allen last month to compete with Haskins for the starting role.
“Chase Young will be the (Redskins’) pick unless there is a major change in the next three weeks,” Miller wrote.
• Matthew Paras can be reached at mparas@washingtontimes.com.
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