3 Reasons Tua Tagovailoa Should Declare for the NFL Draft Instead of Returning to Alabama

Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa will let us know on Monday if he will return for one more go in Tuscaloosa or declare for the 2020 NFL Draft. While returning to Bama does have some benefits from a football perspective, as he can show teams he's still got it post-hip injury, the reasons for Tua to head off to the pros and the potential benefits therein far outweigh what he could gain by going back to Alabama.

3. He's Going Top 15 in the Draft

While Saban could be trying to coax some Bama players back to Tuscaloosa, Tua's head coach confirmed that he received a top-15 draft grade from the NFL advisory board. With teams like the Dolphins, Chargers, and Colts all in need of a franchise quarterback and picking in the Top 15, Tua is still a mortal lock to get picked that high even though he hurt his hip against Mississippi State.

2. Risk of Re-Injury

He would be risking injury in the NFL too, but at least he'd be getting paid. If Tua trots out his fragile hip in the SEC and plays for free at Alabama again, one more serious hit could mean that his pro career is either done or will be changed in a serious manner, and he wouldn't even have the contract to show for it. The durability questions around Tua aren't going to go away in 2020 or 2021, so why risk getting injured as an amateur rather than a pro?

1. 2021's QB Class is Stacked

Even if Tua has another Heisman-caliber season, he'd still likely be the third-best quarterback prospect in the country. Clemson's Trevor Lawrence is all but a lock to be picked No. 1 overall, and Ohio State's Justin Fields is assuredly going to get higher marks than Tua due to his stronger arm and more electric running style with the ball. Tua could either come out in 2020 and be rated as the No. 2 QB prospect behind Joe Burrow, or come back for one more year to be ranked third in 2021, all the while risking injury.