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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3. General Manager Bob Quinn Could Save His Job

General managers are generally tied to the head coach they hired, and Quinn tied himself to Matt Patricia the moment he hired him. But a 9-22-1 record over two seasons is not what anyone envisioned, bad injury luck or not, when “The Patriot Way” came to Motown.

It may be playoffs or bust this year in Detroit, so using the No. 3 pick on someone who is not likely to make an immediate impact will surely not be to Patricia’s liking. In particular, a defensive player like Jeff Okudah or Isaiah Simmons will be on the radar with that pick and if they trade down taking a defensive player becomes all the more likely.

Playoffs or not, if the Lions don’t win a fair chunk more games this year heads will be in line to roll with Patricia as the obvious firing. But if Quinn can defend the overall quality of the roster he has built, and also say he has secured the quarterback of the future in Tagovailoa, his case to not have his fate strictly tethered to Patricia’s would get stronger.

As for his long-running relationship with the first head coach he hired, it can be “this is business, it’s nothing personal” for Quinn as he constructs a narrative it’s Patricia’s fault for three seasons of losing football. If that’s what it comes to, of course.

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