The Carolina Panthers were forced to experiment a lot at the quarterback position this season following the season-ending injury that Cam Newton suffered after just two games. Both Kyle Allen and Will Grier will have gotten playing time under center this season when everything is said and done, but neither of those two guys has the franchise quarterback caliber talent that the team needs long-term.

Looking ahead at the upcoming offseason, the Panthers could decide to go a few different routes. Rumors have been swirling that Carolina will look to trade Newton. If that is the case, that could signal a bit of a rebuild.

Ron Rivera has been fired and the Panthers will be searching for a new head coach. It seems likely that they could look into hiring a better offensive mind. Josh McDaniels and Mike McCarthy are two names that have been rumored to be potential targets for the Panthers.

All of that being said, there is one option in particular that Carolina should strongly consider choosing.

Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa had been widely viewed as a lock for the No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. Unfortunately, he suffered a hip injury that has made him start sliding in some mock drafts. If he is available when the Panthers are on the clock, they should take him without even thinking about it.

Prior to his season-ending hip injury, Tagovailoa had been putting up Heisman numbers. He completed 71.4 percent of his pass attempts for 2,840 yards, 33 touchdowns, and just three interceptions. In addition to his passing numbers, he scored two touchdowns on the ground as well.

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Standing in at 6-foot-1 and 218 pounds, Tagovailoa is a bit undersized for an NFL quarterback. However, teams have found a lot of success with quarterback prospects who have lacked the ideal size. Among those quarterbacks are Russell Wilson and Kyler Murray.

Carolina has to swing big and take some risks if they want to get back to being Super Bowl contenders. That isn't saying that Tagovailoa is a sure thing, but he has legitimate superstar potential.

If he can come back to 100 percent from his injury, the Alabama star could be exactly what the Panthers desperately need. He would be able to bring a strong arm, great IQ, top-notch leadership, and the ability to make plays with his legs when needed. Tagovailoa isn't the typical dual-threat quarterback, but he could be a better passing version of Newton.

All of that being said, the Panthers have their work cut out for them. Christian McCaffrey is a great cornerstone for the offense and D.J. Moore is a solid wide receiver, but they need to make some moves.

Tagovailoa would be a bit of a project, but it would give the Panthers a clear direction at the quarterback position.