Analyst: Dolphins' Tua Tagovailoa sparks concerns about Bryce Young

ESPN NFL Draft guru Todd McShay has admitted the injury issues Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has dealt with since college raise concerns regarding the future of Alabama Crimson Tide signal-caller Bryce Young.

"Looking at Tua Tagovailoa this past year, getting rag-dolled and thrown around, you worry about that a little bit," McShay explained while speaking with reporters on Wednesday, per Hal Habib of The Palm Beach Post. "But Tua doesn’t have the mobility and the pocket presence and the feel for pressure and even the escapability that Bryce Young does." 

McShay previously referred to Young as "a smaller version of (Kansas City Chiefs star) Patrick Mahomes" but has also said he'd be "scared to death of drafting" the Alabama product due to his size. Young measured in at 5-foot-10 1/8 and 204 pounds at the NFL combine and likely walks around lighter than 200 pounds. 

As for Tagovailoa, the Dolphins picked up the fifth-year option attached to his rookie contract even though he suffered at least two reported concussions this past season, alone, and has yet to appear in every game of a single pro campaign. Some suggested this past fall that Tagovailoa should've retired even before he celebrated his 25th birthday last month due to concerns related to his head injuries. 

Young missed only one game in his two years as Alabama's starter when he sat out a contest versus the Texas A&M Aggies last fall with a shoulder issue. McShay made it known Young would already be locked in as the No. 1 pick in this year's draft if he was just a little bigger. 

"The only thing I'm worried about with Bryce is can he hold up? You know, that's really it," McShay continued. "I mean, if he was 6-2, 220 pounds, there would be no conversation. Bryce Young would clearly be the number one quarterback in this class." 

In a mock draft updated on Tuesday, McShay predicted that the Carolina Panthers will take Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback C.J. Stroud with the first overall choice. McShay has Young going to the Houston Texans with pick No. 2.