Could QB Tua Tagovailoa fall to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers?

Will the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have the opportunity to draft a franchise quarterback in Alabama’s Tua Tagovailoa later this spring?

There’s much speculation surrounding what the Tampa Bay Buccaneers should do with the No. 14 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft later this spring.

Much of what the Buccaneers will do during the draft will depend on how free-agency turns out, especially with the amount of unrestricted free agents the Bucs must would decipher through.

That being said, conventional wisdom believes the Buccaneers will go after a player in the first-round who can make an immediate impact along the lines of scrimmage.

According to NFL Draft analysts, here’s a look at some of the players who are being selected by the Buccaneers in the most recent mock drafts:

• Javon Kinlaw, DT (South Carolina)
• Tristan Wirfs, OT (Iowa)
• Derrick Brown, DT (Auburn)
• Yetur Gross-Matos, DE (Penn State)
• K’Lavon Chaisson, DE (LSU)

While most believe the Bucs go with a defensive lineman- or potentially an offensive lineman to upgrade a tackle position- there is something that could throw a wrench in those plans, depending on decisions in free agency.

What if Tampa Bay elects to part ways with Jameis Winston, or sign Winston to a short-term deal? Then the Buccaneers could begin looking at potentially taking a QB who may be the answer for the future.

Though Alabama’s Tua Tagovailoa is expected to go inside the top-7- most have him inside the top-five- he still hasn’t worked out yet and there are major injury concerns about him moving forward. Tagovailoa reported that he’ll be able to throw for NFL organizations in April, but what if there are still concerns?

Are the Miami Dolphins really going to take the chance on a guy that had a serious hip injury last season and, perhaps, won’t be able to play at all in 2020? Probably. But there’s still a major chance that Tagovailoa begins to fall, especially if a guy like Justin Herbert– who has been projected to the Bucs previously- shines at the NFL Combine.

If his draft stock does begin to decrease- and stranger things have happened- the Buccaneers should absolutely take the chance for the potential of what they’d be getting and the value there with the No. 14 pick.

Don’t get your hopes up, though, because it’s not likely to happen. The thought of getting a player with No. 1 overall capability later in the draft will be too much to pass up for an organization, but it’s an interesting consideration nevertheless.