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Meet the Prospects: Top 10 notable offensive players

Brett Carlsen / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Get to know the top prospects for the 2018 NFL Draft ahead of the NFL Scouting Combine, which takes place from March 2-5 in Indianapolis.

Offense | Defense

Saquon Barkley, RB, Penn State

Age: 21 Height: 5-11 Weight: 223 lbs

2017 stats: 1,271 rushing yards, 18 TDs, 632 receiving yards, 3 TDs

Scouts salivated over Barkley for the past two seasons while the Penn State star developed into one of the best running back prospects in recent memory. As the position enjoys a revival at the top of the draft, with players like Ezekiel Elliott and Leonard Fournette going in the top five, Barkley could challenge for the No. 1 overall spot. An athlete with a rare blend of size and strength, Barkley possesses unreal fluidity and burst and has attracted Le'Veon Bell comparisons thanks to his patience and vision. The 21-year-old is also lauded for his work ethic and character. He's as close to a can't-miss prospect as it gets.

Josh Rosen, QB, UCLA

Age: 21 Height: 6-4 Weight: 220 lbs

2017 stats: 3,756 passing yards, 26 TDs, 10 INTs, 62.6 completion percentage

Rosen isn't the most physically talented quarterback in this draft, but certain areas of his game are polished enough to elevate him into the top-five conversation. While the UCLA pivot's arm talent doesn't jump out on film, he's strong in the pocket, has top-tier mechanics, and excels under pressure. His downfield passing and decision-making need significant work, but he excels in two rare areas for a college quarterback: throwing with anticipation and touch. These skills (or the lack thereof) are often the root of a young quarterback's early-career struggles. Rosen does have questions to answer about his passion for football and his leadership qualities, but he could be the guy for a franchise seeking a Matt Ryan-type player who has a high floor and a solid ceiling.

Sam Darnold, QB, USC

Age: 20 Height: 6-4 Weight: 225 lbs

2017 stats: 4,143 passing yards, 26 TDs, 13 INTs, 63.1 completion percentage

Before the 2017 season, Darnold seemed destined to secure the No. 1 overall spot - and he still could, again proving that teams are willing to look past flaws in passers at the top of the draft if their ceilings are high enough. The USC standout looked elite at times last year, but his alarming turnover rate clouds his entire evaluation. He had 13 interceptions and 11 fumbles in 2017, rightfully raising questions about how he'll handle the speed of the NFL. What isn't in doubt is Darnold's potential. He has prototypical size, is advanced in reading defenses, and plays with a confidence and aggression that can't be taught. Darnold's rawness means he may need to sit early in his career, so his destination could be key to the player he becomes.

Calvin Ridley, WR, Alabama

Age: 23 Height: 6-1 Weight: 190 lbs

2017 stats: 63 catches, 967 yards, 5 TDs

Ridley is widely considered the top wide receiver in this year's draft, but the former Alabama star isn't the kind of slam-dunk pass-catching prospect we've seen in years past. He's advanced in terms of route-running, and it's hard to fault his speed and ability to separate. What's holding the 23-year-old back is his lack of an elite frame and strength, and his struggles with drops (this has continued to be a problem for fellow Alabama alum Amari Cooper, which may give teams greater pause with Ridley). A more athletic prospect could challenge Ridley for the top receiver spot, so it'll be important for him to impress at the combine.

Baker Mayfield, QB, Oklahoma

Age: 22 Height: 6-1 Weight: 218 lbs

2017 stats: 4,627 passing yards, 43 TDs, 6 INTs, 63.1 completion percentage, 311 rushing yards, 5 TDs

Strap in, NFL: Baker's coming to town. Mayfield stole the spotlight in his final year of college, destroying the field on his way to winning the Heisman Trophy and making headlines with his brash antics. Some teams may be put off by his fiery personality, but others will love the way he inspires and leads his teammates. Mayfield lacks prototypical size, but his arm strength is more than good enough for the NFL and he's arguably the most well-rounded passer in the draft. He can attack defenses at every level of the field, always forcing them to account for his ability to extend plays. Mayfield's first priority is to clean up his field vision, footwork, and small-window throws, but he's a natural passer who will just need time to develop the subtleties of the position - and convince teams he's not too much of a wild card in the locker room.

Lamar Jackson, QB, Louisville

Age: 21 Height: 6-3 Weight: 200 lbs

2017 stats: 3,660 passing yards, 27 TDs, 10 INTs, 59.1 completion percentage, 1,601 rushing yards, 18 TDs

Maybe the biggest question mark in the draft, some see Jackson as this year's best quarterback prospect, while others are pushing for him to move to receiver thanks to his otherworldly speed and athleticism. As usual, the answer likely lies somewhere in the middle. No one is dismissing Jackson's elite athletic ability or how well his skills could fit the modern NFL, where college concepts are becoming commonplace. However, his deficiencies as a passer need to be addressed to maximize his skill set. Jackson won the Heisman for a reason: He's a dynamic dual threat with a very good arm and decent pocket presence. However, he needs to improve his game-to-game consistency, turnover rate, and accuracy on the run. While Jackson's slight frame is a concern, switching him to a more physically punishing position isn't exactly a logical solution.

Josh Allen, QB, Wyoming

Age: 21 Height: 6-5 Weight: 233 lbs

2017 stats: 1,812 passing yards, 16 TDs, 6 INTs, 56.3 completion percentage, 204 rushing yards, 5 TDs

If you like your quarterbacks to be all-or-nothing gunslingers, Allen may be your man. The former Wyoming signal-caller has an arm unlike any other in this draft, along with the perfect frame and size for his position. Unfortunately, Allen's physical talents are overshadowed by his below-average production and, more importantly, his poor accuracy. Allen routinely struggles with timing and anticipation and is far too careless with the ball, often exhibiting an excess of confidence in his ability to rifle any throw into any size of window. Though some attribute his struggles to his weak supporting cast, Allen also played against subpar talent in the Mountain West Conference, so judging him in a vacuum presents a significant challenge. It's a puzzle teams need to solve, however, in order to determine whether Allen is the next Carson Wentz or the next Blake Bortles.

Derrius Guice, RB, LSU

Age: 20 Height: 5-11 Weight: 212 lbs

2017 stats: 1,251 rushing yards, 11 TDs, 124 receiving yards, 2 TDs

Barkley stands alone among running back prospects, but that's not to say Guice isn't an excellent player in his own right. The well-built LSU star is a physical runner who consistently understands how best to attack defenses and follow his blocks. Guice struggled with injuries in 2017, but showed his potential by dominating in relief of Fournette the year before. The 20-year-old might not have elite breakaway speed or agility, and he needs to improve in the less sexy aspects of the position (pass protection, third-down catching), but his violent style and power are rare.

Connor Williams, OT, Texas

Age: 20 Height: 6-6 Weight: 320 lbs

Once considered a potential top-five pick, Williams' stock dipped during his subpar 2017 campaign - he started just five games as he battled a serious knee injury. His 2016 tape was superb, though, and NFL teams could still see his great size and outstanding skills as a pass protector and take a risk on his health. Williams does lack length and will need to prove he can regain his top form in order to fight off the competition and become the first offensive tackle taken in the draft.

Quenton Nelson, G, Notre Dame

Age: Not available Height: 6-5 Weight: 329 lbs

The sole challenger to Barkley's standing as the can't-miss prospect in this draft, Nelson is being lauded as the best interior offensive lineman to enter the league in quite some time. He's even been called a better prospect than Zack Martin, the Dallas Cowboys' three-time first-team All-Pro guard. Positional value limits how high Nelson can go, but it would be a shock if his name isn't called in the first 10 picks. The former Notre Dame standout has ideal size and mind-boggling strength. He can improve as a pass protector, but his minor deficiencies in this area are noticeable mainly because he's a near-flawless run blocker.

(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)

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