Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa was the fifth overall selection in the 2020 NFL Draft. Yet, as the 2024 NFL Draft ended, Tua’s younger brother was still available.
Maryland quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa went undrafted in the 2024 NFL Draft and will be seeking a new opportunity. Taulia is one of the most intriguing quarterback prospects in this year’s draft class. Therefore, it’s worth discussing why he is still available.
Update: Taulia Tagovailoa participated in the Seattle Seahawks‘ rookie minicamp, and now he will reportedly participate in the Arizona Cardinals‘ rookie minicamp as well.
Former Maryland QB Taulia Tagovailoa, who participated in the #Seahawks’ rookie camp, accepted an invite to the #AZCardinals’ rookie camp this week, source says. A second crack at a roster spot in the NFC West for Tagovailoa. pic.twitter.com/76b4wc0eHG
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) May 7, 2024
Why Did Taulia Tagovailoa Fall in the 2024 NFL Draft?
The 2024 NFL Draft is loaded with prospects that have bloodlines which expand throughout the history of the league. While Taulia is not in the same caliber as his older brother, he offers qualities worth investing in at quarterback.
Taulia offers a ton of starting experience due to his time at Maryland. However, there are questions about Taulia’s limited arm talent, which could be the reason for his slide in the 2024 NFL Draft.
MORE: NFL UDFA Tracker 2024
Pro Football Network’s Ian Cummings analyzed Taulia’s skill set and projection at the next level in his scouting report. “It’s worth noting that Tagovailoa isn’t a liability from a talent perspective,” Cummings said.
“He has a baseline degree of arm talent and is an above-average athlete with solid creation capacity and off-platform ability. His arm strength is much closer to average than elite, but he can generate enough velocity in the short range.”
Potential Landing Spots for Taulia Tagovailoa
After Taulia went undrafted, he’ll have his choice of options as a free agent. Which could be the preferred decision for both Taulia and his agent at this point in the event. Many prospects would rather pick their situation than end up in a tough spot.
Especially at the quarterback position, a prospect’s landing spot could decide if they make it at the next level or not. Taulia will likely want to latch on with a team where he has the opportunity to stick on the practice squad.
Ironically enough, Miami could be a possible landing spot for Taulia. While the Dolphins have Mike White as the backup quarterback, Taulia could certainly compete with Skylar Thompson for that third quarterback spot on Miami’s roster.
Dallas could be another landing spot to watch for Taulia as well. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has never shied away from adding a big-name player, and Taulia’s relation to Tua could be intriguing for the franchise. It’s clear that Dallas isn’t ready to commit long-term to Dak Prescott, which could make Taulia an intriguing developmental option.
KEEP READING: 2024 NFL Draft Complete Results, Recap, Order, and All 257 Picks
One final noteworthy destination is the Indianapolis Colts. While Anthony Richardson is cemented as the team’s franchise quarterback, Taulia could develop into his long-term backup. While Joe Flacco signed a one-year deal with the Colts, he obviously isn’t the solution for Indianapolis behind Richardson past next season.
There are several other intriguing spots for Taulia to potentially land in following the 2024 NFL Draft. It will surely be interesting to monitor his future, given his flashes of talent at Maryland and his relation to Tua.
