The more reading I do, the more I get the sense that there is a real growing concern about the long-term health and durability of Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. In this scenario, the Dolphins opt to select Oregon signal-caller Justin Herbert due to the risks involved with Tua at pick No. 5 overall.
Herbert has the size, standing at 6-foot-6 inches and weighing 236 pounds, mobility (4.68 speed), and a cannon for an arm. Herbert is the total package, and at the NFL level, he may be the most NFL-ready signal-caller this draft class has to offer.
The Los Angeles Chargers are set to open a brand new stadium in Los Angeles and just let the face of their franchise for the past 16 years walk in free agency. As of now, quarterback No. 1 on the depth chart is Tyrod Taylor, but that all changes with the selection of Tua Tagovailoa.
Despite the concerns about Tua’s longevity, he appears to be back to full health based on what I saw from his throwing session at a training complex in Tennessee. Where Tua lands will be one of the big story lines on draft night, and if he is healthy, he will develop into a franchise guy at the NFL level.
Luke Kuechly surprised the organization by retiring after the 2019 NFL season, and they lost another starter on defense in cornerback James Bradberry in free agency. Help is needed on the defense, so why not start in the trenches and draft a dominant force in the middle like Derrick Brown from Auburn.
Many view Brown as a top-five talent, and although he may not get after the quarterback as much as you’d like he is big, strong, and is a people mover. He possess the tools to be an All-Pro at the next level, and the defensive line is definitely an issue for this Carolina Panthers team that is heading into 2020 with a new head coach.
Finally, we have our first offensive tackle off the board to the Arizona Cardinals. In a loaded draft class at the position, Jedrick Wills from Alabama is the first one taken, filling a major need on this Cardinals roster.
The Cardinals had a major need at wide receiver but addressed that with the trade for one of the games best in DeAndre Hopkins. Now they can focus on protecting last years number one pick. Wills who played on the right side at Alabama has the ability to make the shift to the left side with Arizona. He is a mauler in the run game and as a pass blocker allowed only one sack over his 39 games with the Crimson Tide.