Why the Carolina Panthers should avoid Tua temptation

Why the Panthers should avoid the Tua temptation

As intriguing as it would be if Tua Tagovailoa was available for the Carolina Panthers at No. 7, it is something they should be looking to avoid.

They have a glaring need for defensive talent and this should be their primary concern. They have also invested a considerable amount in free-agent quarterback Teddy Bridgewater to lead them in 2020.

Taking Tua would be nothing short of demoralizing for Bridgewater. He has waited a long time for another shot at starting in the NFL and deserves his chance after coming back from a career-threatening leg injury.

Although head coach Matt Rhule has not dismissed the notion of taking a quarterback in the first round, it would simply send out the wrong message. Not having a top-tier defensive prospect from day one is going to be disastrous for the Panthers’ chances of mounting an unsuspected challenge in the NFC South.

Should Tua be available at No. 7, then it would give Carolina tremendous leverage if trading down to acquire more picks becomes a possibility. Any team looking to move up could over a bounty of selections that would give the franchise more ammunition to work with both this year and next.

There is no telling just what a positive impact this would have on their current rebuild. General manager Marty Hurney has already proven adept at selecting players that could impact the team immediately. So the more college prospects that come into the set-up, the better.

That is why the Panthers should stay away from Tua. While it is an enticing prospect, there are plenty more pressing priorities elsewhere and these should take precedent before anything else.