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Aug 13, 2015; San Diego, CA, USA; A helmet from a San Diego Chargers player in a preseason NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys at Qualcomm Stadium. The Chargers won 17-7. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports
Home » Blog » NFL Draft 2020: 5 teams primed for a first-round quarterback

NFL Draft 2020: 5 teams primed for a first-round quarterback

Matt Verderame NFL

The NFL Draft always centers around the quarterbacks.

Yes, Chase Young is going to be a monster off the edge and CeeDee Lamb looks like the next great burner coming out of the Big 12. All those things are true, and yet they pale in excitement for fans dreaming about their next potential franchise quarterback.

In that vein, here are five fan bases that should be watching for their teams to strongly consider a quarterback in the first round, going from least to most-likely.

5. Carolina Panthers

The Panthers are in the first year of the Matt Rhule era, and which way they go with Cam Newton over the next few months will be extremely telling. Should the Panthers release Newton and save $19 million on the cap, they’ll need someone to replace him. No, Will Grier isn’t that guy. While Carolina could go with a stopgap veteran, picking so high could also give it a chance to take someone such as Justin Herbert or even Jordan Love.

4. Indianapolis Colts

The Colts have to be thinking about making a splash here. Jacoby Brissett is signed for one more season, and after that? Tough to see general manager Chris Ballard hitching his proverbial wagon to Brissett beyond 2020. Indianapolis drafts in the middle of the first round and while Joe Burrow, Tua Tagovaila and Herbert are likely gone, Love could be a nice fit here.

3. Los Angeles Chargers

With Philip Rivers appeared to be on the outs, general manager Tom Telesco needs to find his quarterback in the draft. After a bitterly disappointing five-win season, the Chargers are in prime position to land either Tagovailoa or Herbert. Either would be helpful in selling individual tickets and Private Seating Licenses to SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, where the team has been almost invisible for its first two seasons there.

2. Miami Dolphins

Dolphins head coach Brian Flores did a hell of a job winning five games last season. Now, armed with a trio of first-round selections including the No. 5 overall pick, Miami needs to make waves. While Burrow will be off the board (more on that below), the Dolphins can package picks to move up a few spots and ensure they get the second quarterback. It’s a virtual no-brainer for general manager Chris Grier.

1. Cincinnati Bengals

This is beyond obvious. The Bengals are taking Burrow barring The Godfather offer of all time. Cincinnati hasn’t had this easy of a choice since taking Carson Palmer to kick off the 2003 draft.

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