Measurables
School: Maryland Terrapins
Position: Quarterback
Height: 5’10”
Weight: 200 lbs.
Taulia Tagovailoa Scouting Report
Taulia Tagovailoa is the younger brother of Miami Dolphins’ star quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. He was a highly-rated 4-star recruit from Thompson High School in Alabama, where he broke multiple school records. Due to his talent, many teams were interested in him, but he eventually decided to commit to the Alabama Crimson Tide, coached by Nick Saban.
During his freshman year at Alabama, he realized he would be sitting behind Mac Jones, who was ahead of him in the depth chart, and behind Bryce Young, a 5-star recruit. With all the competition and his lackluster performance during spring ball and off-season practices, Taulia decided to enter the transfer portal. He later transferred to the University of Maryland, where he would get the chance to be the starter.
In Taulia’s sophomore season, his first in Maryland, he started in four games. During those four games, Tagovailoa completed 65% of his passes for 1011 yards, seven touchdowns, and seven interceptions. This performance was not exactly what people expected of him, but he had time to show what he’s got in his next season. Finally, in his second season with the Terrapins, he had his long-awaited breakout. In 13 games, he threw for 3860 yards, 26 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions. He completed 69% of his passes and had a passer rating of 151.1, showing dramatic improvement from previous seasons.
The 2022 football season was seen as Tagovailoa’s opportunity to showcase his skills and prove his potential as an NFL player. Despite completing 68% of his passes and accumulating 3008 yards, 18 touchdowns, and 8 interceptions in 12 games, his performance was considered a slight regression from the previous year. As a result, NFL teams were still hesitant to draft him, and he had to return to college for the 2023 season. During this season, he exhibited the same level of talent as he had in 2021, completing 67% of his passes for 3377 yards, 25 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. Although he tried to extend his eligibility for another year, his request was denied, and he decided to declare for the NFL Draft. He impressed scouts during the Shrine Bowl, and his name began to circulate once again among NFL teams.
Strengths
- While undersized for the modern-day NFL he is very strong and stocky providing great durability
- He is a good athlete showing the ability to move effectively breaking through arm tackles and accelerating for big gains
- Great velocity on passes over the middle of the field or on short underneath routes
- Possesses a quick release with a decent level of arm elasticity helping to hit shorter passes
- An accurate passer being able to place the ball all over especially hitting the short and intermediate routes
- Is a savvy veteran and leader
- Keeps level shoulders being able to make some impressive throws cross-body
- Works through his first two reads incredibly well and urgently
Weaknesses
- He is undersized and shows a lot of the issues that smaller quarterbacks show
- Average arm strength not always able to maintain velocity when slinging the ball downfield often sailing passes
- While he can be urgent in hitting his open receivers he sometimes shows fear of throwing into tight windows
- Often throws off his backfoot when facing pressure losing accuracy and leaving the ball up for grabs
- Will be a 24-year-old rookie
Projected Draft Position- Late Day 3/UDFA
Player Comparison: Stetson Bennett
Best fits: Vikings, Seahawks, Broncos
What to expect of Taulia Tagovailoa
Tagovailoa is a quarterback with NFL-level skills, but he may not be more than a career backup. While he has some athletic ability that may interest teams, it’s not enough to significantly raise his value. He can throw the ball with great velocity on short routes, particularly slants. Tagovailoa will be able to manage the game and complete the easy passes, but he doesn’t possess enough talent to be anything other than average. However, he is an exceptional leader who can maintain high morale in the locker room and keep players engaged.
As a rookie, he will already be 24 years old, and there’s no evidence to suggest that he can improve season by season. His small stature also poses a significant challenge, as he has not demonstrated the ability to overcome his height. Furthermore, his arm strength is only average, which limits his potential to become an elite player in any position. His tape makes it clear that he often overthrows the ball, and when he does make an accurate throw, it tends to hang in the air for too long. This makes his passes vulnerable to interception by defenders. Overall, he needs significant refinement in his mechanics and skillset, but few teams have the patience to allow him to start and learn.
Taulia Tagovailoa is a decent player, but he might not reach the level of greatness. His game management skills are good, and teams might consider him on day three of the draft. If he remains healthy, he may be a backup for a long time in the league. There is nothing wrong with being a backup, but the younger Tagovailoa brother will likely slip to the late rounds of day three or possibly not be drafted at all.
Main Photo: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
