Carolina Panthers: Is Tua the Perfect Fit in Carolina

The Carolina Panthers were never in the “Tank for Tua” pool, but somehow ended up only a couple wins better than the teams that were. The Panthers finished with just 5 wins and landed in the top 10, picking 7th, in this year’s NFL Draft.

Now that Carolina has re-committed to Cam Newton going into the 2020 season, is that all just a set up for the future franchise quarterback? Should Panthers fans reserve their Tagovailoa jerseys?

Pre-draft the smokescreens are heavy. Teams will throw out whatever information they have to fend teams off their master plans. With teams fighting over trading up, trading back, and who will get their next franchise quarterback, could Tua fall to Carolina at 7th?

The Miami Dolphins were said to have an interest as far back as the preseason last year. No one was deeper in the “Tank for Tua” mantra according to the media. Then, without warning, the Dolphins started to win football games.

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Now there are more and more names being thrown in the mix to the top of the draft. Joe Burrow is said to be Cincy’s prime pick, but now teams ahead of Carolina seem to be kicking around Jordan Love and Justin Herbert.

If Tua falls in their lap, Matt Rhule and company might have to strongly consider taking him. With a savvy vet in camp already, there’d be no rush to bring Tagovailoa back from injury so quickly.

Ahead of Carolina, the only team to have a quarterback in place for the upcoming season to let Tua fully heal, are the Miami Dolphins. Everyone’s talking about trading up for Tua, but with the rise of stock after the NFL combine teams might be off the scent.

Any team willing to trade up and lose draft stock is probably going to want a day one starter. While Tua Tagovailoa might be ready to go at the start of camp, injury concerns might cause the annual draft slide.

With the Panthers, there’s a steady run game, solid receivers, and if they add a few more pieces on defense Tua can be their transition to the future. There might be more pressing needs but if they address them in free agency the pressure will be off. Drafting a quarterback might be on their radar and Tua Tagovailoa might be the one.