2024 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Taulia Tagovailoa (QB – Maryland)

FantasyPros will be taking a look at early NFL Draft scouting reports before the Combine in March. Here’s a look at Maryland quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa.

2024 NFL Draft Guide

2024 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Taulia Tagovailoa

Taulia Tagovailoa (QB – Maryland)

5’11” – 208 lbs.

Background:

A four-star recruit who originally attended Alabama with his brother (Tua Tagovailoa). Transferred to Maryland after one season and has been the team’s starter ever since. Went 2-2 in the shortened 2020 season (1,011 yards, seven touchdowns, seven interceptions). Went 7-6 the following year, recording 3,860 yards (69.2%, 8.1 YPA), 26 touchdowns and 11 interceptions (probably his most productive year). Was 7-5 in 2022, with 3,008 yards (67.0%, 7.7 YPA), 18 touchdowns and eight interceptions. Went 7-5 again this past season, throwing for 3,377 yards, 66.4%, 7.7 YPA, 25 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.

Positives:

Experienced starter with pro bloodlines; finished his college career with 38 starts and a 22-16 record. Has quick feet to get to the end of his drop, without a heel click at the end. Gets the ball out fast in the quick game, which was a big part of Maryland’s offense. Sound decision maker who generally does a good job of processing coverages and identifying targets. Has a quick release and nice throwing motion. Accurate passer with nice touch and a catchable ball. Shows some ability to manipulate safeties with his eyes. Gets good arc on his downfield throws and does a solid job of stepping into them. More mobile than his rushing numbers would suggest. Is capable of moving the launch point and throwing on the run. Does a good job of eluding pressure.

Negatives:

Size is below average for a pro quarterback. Played in an offense that featured a relatively high percentage of play-action and threw a higher rate of passes within 10 yards than usual, including a pretty heavy reliance on screens. Looks like he’s playing a bit too fast at times. Pocket movement can be an issue; tends to drift into danger, rather than hanging in a clean pocket. Decision-making under pressure has regressed each year. Tends to drop his eyes when scrambling. Overall arm talent and velocity are below average. Can struggle to rifle passes into tight windows; looks like the ball’s taking too long on throws toward the boundary. Throws some wobbly spirals. Doesn’t offer much as a pure runner (career 0.8 yards per carry).

Summary:

An experienced college starter who gets the ball out fast in the quick game and who throws with touch and accuracy. However, he lacks ideal physical tools for the quarterback position, being smaller than the typical pro quarterback and lacking ideal arm talent to rifle throws out to the boundaries and downfield. Because of those limitations, he projects as more of a late-round possibility who could protect the football on rhythm throws in a conservative, quick-tempo offense.

Projection: Round 6-7