With the fifth pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, the Miami Dolphins selected Alabama’s Tua Tagovailoa. The rookie dealt with his fair share of criticism in the pre-draft process, mostly because of his mounting injury history.
Tagovailoa suffered several minor injuries in 2018 that didn’t cause him to miss time. However, as the 2018 season rolled on, Tagovailoa suffered a left high ankle sprain. He suffered a right high ankle sprain in the following season.
Even though the repeated ankle injuries caused concern amongst NFL scouts, most were willing to overlook the setbacks for Tagovailoa’s ridiculous potential. Then, the Alabama quarterback suffered a dislocated right hip with posterior acetabular wall fracture in November of this past season.
The injury required surgery and prevented Tagovailoa from finishing his junior season. Combined with the rise of Joe Burrow, Tagovailoa’s injury demoted the Alabama product from contention for the top spot in the draft.
Despite the injury concerns, Tagovailoa still provides the Dolphins with one of the best quarterback prospects in the past decade. Assuming he’s fully healed, the rookie will take the reins from Ryan Fitzpatrick this season.
Teams never want to put too much pressure on their young quarterbacks, but Tagovailoa faces high expectations after his stellar collegiate career.