John Bazemore/Associated Press

Todd McShay 2020 NFL Mock Draft: Tua Tagovailoa Goes No. 1 in Early Projections

Tim Daniels

ESPN analyst Todd McShay released his first mock draft for the 2020 NFL draft Thursday, with Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Tua Tagovailoa going first overall to the Miami Dolphins.

Tagovailoa is also the betting-line favorite to come off the board first next year with 1-2 odds at the Westgate Las Vegas Race & Sports SuperBook, per Alaa Abdeldaiem of Sports Illustrated.

The 21-year-old Hawaii native completed 69 percent of his throws for 3,966 yards, 43 passing touchdowns and six interceptions in 2018, his first year as the team's full-time starter. He added 190 rushing yards and five scores on the ground across 15 games.

He finished second to the Oklahoma Sooners' Kyler Murray, the No. 1 pick in the 2019 draft by the Arizona Cardinals, in Heisman Trophy voting and won the Maxwell and Walter Camp Awards after being viewed as the best college football player in the country.

Although Tagovailoa would have been a contender alongside Murray to come off the board first in this year's draft, he told Zach Gelb of CBS Sports Radio (via 247Sports' Brad Crawford) in April he agreed with the NFL's eligibility requirements ruling him out of contention:

"I honestly think that is a good rule. I mean, I'd say because when you go the NFL, I mean, you're playing against grown men. This isn't something that you need to take lightly. And you've got to take into consideration that it's a job.

"It's a job when you go to the NFL, and just being able to stay in college for another year, for me—I mean, being able to hear all these people, these speakers come and talk to us, you know, about how to be accountable for your money. How to be accountable in things you do. You learn so many lessons before you even reach that stage, too, where when things do happen, you've heard it from other guys. You have contacts to go to."

The Dolphins acquired quarterback Josh Rosen, the No. 10 pick in the 2018 draft, in a trade with the Cardinals after they selected Murray. Rosen is likely to start over journeyman Ryan Fitzpatrick, and his performance will determine whether Miami does pick first next year.

Meanwhile, other early contenders to become the 2020 top choice include Oregon Ducks quarterback Justin Herbert, Georgia Bulldogs quarterback Jake Fromm, Ohio State Buckeyes defensive end Chase Young and Tide wide receiver Jerry Jeudy.

   

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