Tua Tagovailoa would be honored to play for Detroit Lions, his agent says

MIAMI — If the Detroit Lions want Tua Tagovailoa with the No. 3 pick, the Alabama quarterback would embrace the opportunity to play for the team.

One of Tagovailoa‘a agents, Chris Cabott, told the Detroit Free Press that Tagovailoa, his family and representatives all agree that Detroit would be a welcome landing spot for a player once considered the No. 1 prospect in the draft.

“It would be an honor for Tua to play for the Detroit Lions if given the opportunity,” Cabott said. “And we as a family, along with the Tagovailoa family, feel united in that belief.”

The Miami Herald reported Thursday that the Tagovailoa family is hesitant about going to the Lions due to the uncertainty of the team's coaching situation under Matt Patricia.

Tagovailoa, according to the report, wants to play for the Miami Dolphins.

LSU quarterback Joe Burrow is the favorite to go No. 1 overall to the Cincinnati Bengals, and Ohio State defensive end Chase Young is a candidate to go second to Washington.

The Lions own the third pick in the draft and could have their choice of Tagovailoa, who’s returning from a serious hip injury, or any one of several defensive playmakers.

Incumbent starter Matthew Stafford still has three years left on his contract, and the Lions may be hesitating to deal him given the large cap hit they would incur.

But another one of Tagovailoa’s agents, Leigh Steinberg, told the Free Press on Thursday he hopes Tagovailoa goes to a team where he’s not forced into action as a rookie.

Tagovailoa led Alabama to a national championship as a rookie and if healthy would rank among the best quarterback prospects since Andrew Luck.