The NFL Draft is just days away.

As speculation continues on how the first round plays out Thursday night, Reese’s Senior Bowl executive director Jim Nagy needed little to identify the best player in this year’s draft.

Nagy, who spent 18 years as an NFL scout, joined me and Lee Shirvanian on “The Opening Kickoff” on WNSP-FM 105.5 and pointed to Tuscaloosa for the cream of this year’s crop.

“I think it is Quinnen Williams from Alabama,” Nagy said. "He has a really hard skill set to find. I think Josh Allen from Kentucky is the best edge rusher, but it’s a lot harder to find guys on the interior defensive line who can put pressure on the passer.

"What Quinnen did last year as a first-year starter with Alabama was awesome. I think he’s just scratching the surface. He’s really a hard guy to block. He’s so powerful. He’s so slippery. Usually guys are one or the other, but he’s kind of both.

“I think Quinnen is the best player.”

Last season, Williams had a hand in 71 tackles, 19.5 for a loss, and eight sacks.

Nagy’s stance on the best player has been consistent through most of the pre-draft process. Last month, it was reported the San Francisco 49ers plan to take the best player, regardless of position.

That player was clear to Nagy.

With the No. 2 pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, the San Francisco 49ers select...Quinnen Williams. defensive tackle, University of Alabama. https://t.co/o9eAHgAyd8 — Jim Nagy (@JimNagy_SB) March 21, 2019

There has been debate over the years whether team’s should draft based on need or best available. Nagy, armed with experience, said the choice is easy.

“Obviously in a perfect world, those two things meet up, but it is one or the other, I’m taking the best player,” Nagy said. "I’ve been a part of too many teams where we drafted for need and we’ve swung and missed.

"I’m more of the philosophy of take the best player and let your roster sort itself out."

Mark Heim is a sports reporter for The Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Mark_Heim.