Ranking the 5 most likely landing spots for Tua Tagovailoa

The Cincinnati Bengals are expected to take Joe Burrow with the first overall pick in April, giving plenty of teams an opportunity to nab Tua Tagovailoa on draft night.

The Alabama quarterback declared for the 2020 NFL Draft on Monday, beginning his professional journey as he continues to rehabilitate from a major hip injury.

The three teams scheduled to pick after the Bengals - the Washington Redskins, Detroit Lions, and New York Giants - all appear set at quarterback long term, creating plenty of intrigue about where Tagovailoa will land.

Let's try these five clubs on for size:

5. Panthers

The only way Tagovailoa slides to No. 7 is if medical reports come back with red flags. Assuming that doesn't happen, Carolina will be forced to make some major moves to get the Hawaiian star, probably including trading Cam Newton and using the returning assets in a package to move up. As unlikely as that sounds, we shouldn't rule it out. Newton is entering the final year of his contract, and new Panthers owner David Tepper could hesitate to give him a new one due to the injuries that have slowed the veteran passer recently.

4. Chargers

There's uncertainty about Philip Rivers' future. The 38-year-old isn't under contract for 2020, and he's coming off one of his poorest seasons. Even if he does return, Rivers is no longer a viable long-term option for the Chargers. Los Angeles holds the No. 6 pick, and the Bolts straying from their conservative approach and moving up to secure a quarterback of the future - if not the present - isn't inconceivable. The Chargers move into a new stadium in 2020, and the franchise must do something to put fans in the stands. Few things ignite a fan base more than the arrival of a promising young quarterback.

3. Colts

Jacoby Brissett is fine as a bridge quarterback, but as Indianapolis general manager Chris Ballard acknowledged at the end of the season, the jury is still out on him as a long-term answer. Ballard and the Colts are in a favorable position: They own pick No. 13, the Redskins' second-round pick, and their own second-round pick, and the team has already put together a competitive roster that doesn't necessarily need an infusion of draftees. Consequently, Ballard could feel compelled to package his assets and trade up to land Tagovailoa, who wouldn't need to rush onto the field with Brissett under contract through 2020.

2. Raiders

The Raiders possess two first-round picks (Nos. 12 and 19), and they would be wise to use them to upgrade over Derek Carr. The incumbent starting pivot is coming off his best statistical season, but he still didn't look like a true franchise cornerstone in 2019. The Raiders can release Carr and incur only a $5-million cap hit in 2020. Like the Chargers, they need to make an offseason splash to pique fan interest, especially prior to moving to Las Vegas.

1. Dolphins

This one is pretty straightforward. The Dolphins gutted their roster before the season expecting to land in a position to select the franchise quarterback they've been missing for years. While Miami did a bit better than expected in the standings, the team still owns the No. 5 pick. The Dolphins are also equipped with the 18th selection and the Houston Texans' first-rounder, giving them whatever ammunition they need to prevent a rival from jumping up to snatch Tagovailoa.

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