5 reasons the Detroit Lions should draft Tua Tagovailoa

FAYETTEVILLE, AR - NOVEMBER 9: Tua Tagovailoa #13 of the Alabama Crimson Tide warms up before a game against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Davis Wade Stadium on November 16, 2019 in Starkville, Mississippi. The Crimson Tide defeated the Bulldogs 38-7. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /

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4. A Better Backup Plan

A lackluster defense assured the Lions weren’t going to win a lot of games when Matthew Stafford was healthy last year. But when he rendered unable to play with a back injury, they had absolutely no chance. Chase Daniel has been signed, but he is the dictionary definition of a career backup with five starts and 218 regular season pass attempts over 10 seasons.

If Stafford were to be sidelined again for a chunk of games this year, it would quickly become another lost season in Detroit. Head coach Matt Patricia can’t afford to take that chance, and general manager Bob Quinn probably can’t either.

Even if Tagovailoa isn’t quite ready for Week 1, and he wouldn’t have to be if the Lions drafted him, he could theoretically step in further into the season if Stafford were injured. Based purely on talent and upside, things could stay afloat quite well with a fully healthy Tua at the helm with a nice set of skill position talent.

It’s also possible, if unlikely given Stafford’s production track record and what he’s making, that Tagovailoa wouldn’t relinquish the starting job if he had to play as a rookie and Stafford was healthy.

If the Lions stay put at No. 3 and draft Tagovailoa, they can take a shot on getting their quarterback of the future and instantly upgrade the situation behind Stafford. Talk about killing two birds with one stone.

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