Alabama QB Tua Tagovailoa got one more positive medical report Thursday afternoon. Butch Dill-USA TODAY

Doctor says Alabama QB Tua Tagovailoa 'good as ever' ahead draft

By Zac Wassink | Last updated 4/23/20

Throughout the months and weeks leading up to the 2020 NFL Draft, Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa became one of the most polarizing to-be rookies of his class.

Earlier this month, multiple reports surfaced that the Alabama product underwent two additional operations than recently believed during his collegiate career and that at least one NFL franchise flunked the 22-year-old on a physical.

Hours before the kickoff of the draft, one medical expert gave Tagovailoa an A-plus grade.

Thursday afternoon, ESPN's Stephania Bell spoke with Tennessee Titans doctor Thomas Byrd about the likely first-round selection:

I spoke w/Dr. Thomas Byrd, hip specialist in Nashville; he was independent evaluator for Tua’s medical recheck. 3 things struck me:
1) his x-rays looked “pristine”
2) CT scan of right hip joint space mirrors the left
3) “looks as good as (he’s) ever seen 5 mos out” post-injury
— Stephania Bell (@Stephania_ESPN) April 23, 2020

This isn't the first time Byrd has cleared Tagovailoa. ESPN previously reported that other NFL team physicians selected Byrd to examine the Alabama signal-caller on April 2, and Byrd's findings at the time "were overwhelmingly positive."

Tagovailoa underwent surgery in November after he suffered a posterior wall fracture and dislocated hip.

On Wednesday, Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald reported the Miami Dolphins gave Tagovailoa a passing grade at the NFL Combine in February.

Will Brinson and R.J. White of CBS Sports, and the final ESPN NFL Nation mock draft, all predict the Dolphins will draft Tagovailoa. However, CBS' Tom Fornelli believes the Jacksonville Jaguars could trade up for the QB.

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