USA TODAY Sports Network

With the NFL draft beginning April 25, reporters from the USA TODAY Sports Network rank the top five players at each position:

OFFENSE

Quarterbacks

1. Kyler Murray, Oklahoma, 5-10, 207, 21 years old.

Key stat: With 42 passing touchdowns and 12 rushing touchdowns last season, Murray became just the third FBS quarterback in the past decade to have 40-plus TD passes and 10 or more rushing scores, joining Oregon’s Marcus Mariota (2014) and Texas Tech’s Patrick Mahomes (2016).

Why he’s special: For starters, he’s a winner. He’s a dynamic, dual-threat talent as a passer and a runner. He has outstanding foot quickness and great compact delivery in the pocket. He zips the ball to his targets and has fantastic accuracy on deep balls. Despite his smallish stature, he can see the entire field and make all the far-hashmark throws. He only had five passes batted down at the line of scrimmage last year.

2. Dwayne Haskins, Ohio State, 6-3, 231, 21 years old.

Key stat: In his last four games with the Buckeyes in 2018 – against Maryland, Michigan, Northwestern and Washington – Haskins threw for a combined 1,551 yards and 17 touchdowns with just two interceptions.

Why he’s special: He’s always had an inner drive to be great and relishes every chance to keep proving it. Haskins has an incredibly strong arm and drives his passes downfield with conviction. He nails tight-window targets and has great touch on throws underneath the coverage. He can be a solid franchise quarterback with the right team.

3. Drew Lock, Missouri, 6-4, 225, 22 years old.

Key stat: Threw for 12,193 yards and 99 touchdowns during his four-year starting career in college, which included an SEC and school single-season record in 2017 with a nation-best 44 touchdown passes.

Why he’s special: Has a ton of experience, having started 46 games at Missouri and was the first true freshman to start for the Tigers since 1995. Lock was lights out at the NFL scouting combine, showing off a strong and accurate arm and impressing teams with his footwork. He can move in and out of the pocket and can create plays while on the move. He’ll be a serious climber in this draft.

4. Daniel Jones, Duke, 6-5, 221, 21 years old.

Key stat: Three-year starter for the Blue Devils who completed 59.9 percent of his throws for 8,201 yards with 52 touchdowns and 29 interceptions. On the ground, Jones ran for 1,323 yards and 17 touchdowns.

Why he’s special: Has great size, incredible toughness and never gives up on a play. Though some scouts see him more as a game manager who projects better as a backup, Jones has a warrior’s heart, and his competitiveness won’t allow him to settle for second best. Someone just has to be unafraid to give him a chance.

5. Ryan Finley, North Carolina State, 6-4, 213, 24 years old.

Key stat: Had a stretch where he threw 339 consecutive passes without an interception, the second-longest such streak in school history behind Russell Wilson (379).

Why he’s special: Gives you a lot to work with. He may not have all the perfect traits a team is looking for, but he does enough of them well enough to make you think the right fit of system and coaching can get him to the next level. He’s likely a second-day pick in the draft.

***

Running backs

1. Josh Jacobs, Alabama, 5-10, 220, 21 years old.

Key stat: Had just 251 career caries at Alabama playing behind fellow 2019 draft hopeful Damien Harris, including just 120 last season while rushing for 640 yards and a team-leading 11 touchdowns.

Why he’s special: Despite not necessarily getting his due (from an opportunity standpoint) in Tuscaloosa, Jacobs is a complete running back with three-down potential and the ability to make plays in space and in the passing game, as well as in the return game, all of which will make him a hot commodity on Day 1.

2. Damien Harris, Alabama, 5-10, 216, 22 years old.

Key stat: A consistent run producer, Harris’ career 6.45 yards per carry average ranks third in SEC history behind on Bo Jackson and Derrius Guice.

Why he’s special: Started ahead of Jacobs simply because of his reliability leading Alabama’s ground game, eclipsing 3,070 career rushing yards on 477 carries, including averaging 6.76 yards a carry, all of which translates well to the next level.

3. David Montgomery, Iowa State, 5-10, 222, 21 years old.

Key stat: Ranked sixth in program history with 2,925 career rushing yards and 3,507 all-purpose yards.

Why he’s special: Physical and tough, was a three-year starter who did a little of everything, and represents an overworked version of Jacobs, which will could move him into the second round.

4. Miles Sanders, Penn State, 5-11, 211, 22 years old.

Key stat: Fourth in Big Ten averaging 108.7 yards of total offense in lone season as the starter.

Why he’s special: After spending two seasons in Saquon Barkley’s shadow, Sanders proved a quality replacement for last year’s No. 2 overall pick, including outrushing him 1,274 to 1,271 in their respective final seasons.

5. Devin Singletary, Florida Atlantic, 5-7, 203, 21 years old.

Key stat: Led the FBS with 113 broken tackles last season, 25 more than any other, while his 66 career rushing touchdowns in three seasons ranks sixth all-time in FBS history.

Why he’s special: While not the prototypical size for an every-down running back in the NFL, Singletary’s explosiveness and lateral agility to force missed tackles make him an immediate big-play option.

***

Tight ends

1. T.J. Hockenson, Iowa, 6-5, 251, 21 years old.

Key stat: Caught 49 balls for 760 yards and six touchdowns as the John Mackey Award winner as the best college tight end.

Why he’s special: The total package as a polished blocker but also is one of the better athletes at the position with the ability to catch in traffic.

2. Noah Fant, Iowa, 6-4, 249, 21 years old.

Key stat: Set combine bests for the position in the 40-yard dash (4.5 seconds), vertical jump (39.5 inches), broad jump (127 inches), three-cone drill (6.81 seconds) and 60-yard shuttle (11.49 seconds).

Why he’s special: Clearly an athletic wonder, Fant also proved a reliable pass catcher and big-play threat.

3. Irv Smith, Jr., Alabama, 6-2, 242, 20 years old.

Key stat: Caught 44 passes for 710 yards and seven touchdowns.

Why he’s special: Well-rounded prospect with room to grow whose speed and route running can create mismatches with linebackers.

4. Jace Sternberger, Texas A&M, 6-4, 251, 22 years old.

Key stat: Caught 10 touchdowns in 12 games en route to an offensive MVP season for the Aggies. Caught 48 passes in total for 832 yards.

Why he’s special: Good hands, runs very well and can get open with good route running.

5. Caleb Wilson, UCLA, 6-4, 240, 23 years old.

Key stat: Averaged 16.1 yards a catch and had 948 receiving yards last season.

Why he’s special: Ran a 4.56-second 40-yard dash and presents a big target with good hands.

***

Wide receivers

1. A.J. Brown, Ole Miss, 6-0, 226, 21 years old.

Key stat: Racked up 160 catches for 2,520 yards in his final two seasons at Ole Miss.

Why he’s special: A big body who also has the quickness to play out of the slot, Brown is the best all-around receiver in a class that’s light on stardom but long on depth.

2. Marquise Brown, Oklahoma, 5-9, 166, 21 years old.

Key stat: Averaged an incredible 18.3 yards a reception on 132 catches over his two seasons in Norman.

Why he’s special: Nicknamed “Hollywood” and the cousin of Antonio Brown, he is a burner who is also electric in the open field, making him the best home-run hitter of this class of receivers.

3. N’Keal Harry, Arizona State, 6-2, 228, 21 years old.

Key stat: Caught 58 passes or more in all three years with the Sun Devils.

Why he’s special: Excellent at going up in the air to make the leaping catch and also adept at picking up yards after the catch, making him a quarterback’s best friend.

4. D.K. Metcalf, Ole Miss, 6-3, 228, 21 years old.

Key stat: Ran the 40-yard dash in 4.33 seconds and measured at just 1.9 percent body fat at the Combine.

Why he’s special: Metcalf is this draft’s workout warrior, a player with unbelievable speed at his size who didn’t have big-time production in college, in part due to injury.

5. Parris Campbell, Ohio State, 6-0, 205 pounds, 21 years old.

Key stat: Posted an eye-popping 90 catches for 1,063 yards and 12 touchdowns as a senior.

Why he’s special: A burner who ran the 40-yard dash in 4.31 seconds, Campbell is capable of a versatile, diverse role that asks him to contribute at receiver, on jet sweeps and on gadget plays.

***

Offensive linemen

1. Jawaan Taylor, Florida, 6-5, 312, 21 years old.

Key stat: Allowed just one sack on 364 pass-block attempts as a junior tackle, according to Pro Football Focus

Why he’s special: Reliable in pass protection and gritty as a run blocker, Taylor possesses a unique combination of size, strength and agility.

2. Jonah Williams, Alabama, 6-4, 302, 21 years old.

Key stat: Started all 15 games at left tackle in 2018 and won the SEC's Jacobs Blocking Trophy.

Why he’s special: With elite technique, fundamentals and work ethic, Williams has all the tools to complement his athleticism and size.

3. Andre Dillard, Washington State, 6-5, 315, 22 years old.

Key stat: Dillard had an 118-inch broad jump at the combine, which tied for the third-best mark in the past 20 years among all offensive linemen. (The record, set in 2018 by UCLA’s Kolton Miller, is 121 inches.)

Why he’s special: Dillard is both the most athletic and best pass-blocking tackle in this year’s class.

4. Garrett Bradbury, N.C. State, 6-3, 306, 23 years old.

Key stat: Had the fourth-most bench presses (34) at the combine among all prospects and was the center in the middle of a Wolfpack offensive line that allowed only 13 sacks in 13 games.

Why he’s special: A former tight end, and it shows: he possesses incredible movement skills, is fast to strike and 300-pound linemen don’t get any laterally quicker.

5. Cody Ford, Oklahoma, 6-4, 329, 22 years old.

Key stat: Allowed just one sack in 441 pass-blocking snaps, according to Pro Football Focus, after switching to tackle this past season.

Why he’s special: A mauler in the run game who has a huge wingspan, is light on his feet and adjusts well to pass-rushers.

***

DEFENSE

Interior linemen

1. Quinnen Williams, Alabama, 6-3, 303, 21 years old.

Key stat: Ran a 4.83 40-yard dash at the NFL scouting combine, the fastest time for a defensive lineman over 300 pounds since the 2012 combine — and faster than J.J. Watt’s 4.84 at 290 pounds in 2011.

Why he’s special: With the perfect combination of size, speed and college production, he’s the total package and projects as an impact player from Day 1.

2. Ed Oliver, Houston, 6-2, 287, 21 years old.

Key stat: Averaged 1.7 tackles for a loss per game during his collegiate career.

Why he’s special: His explosiveness and initial quickness make him extremely fast at the point of attack, which allows him to immediately penetrate into the backfield.

3. Christian Wilkins, Clemson, 6-3, 315, 23 years old.

Key stat: 192 total tackles in four seasons at Clemson and he also was the first Tigers player to win the William V. Campbell Trophy for academics, community service and on-field performance.

Why he’s special: A versatile, intelligent player with elite athleticism and a face-of-the-franchise personality.

4. Dexter Lawrence, Clemson, 6-4, 342, 21 years old.

Key stat: 131 total tackles and 10 sacks in three seasons at Clemson.

Why he’s special: As the best nose tackle in this draft class, he’d be an ideal fit for a team that plays a 3-4 defense.

5. Jeffery Simmons, Mississippi State, 6-4, 301, 21 years old.

Key stat: 18 tackles for a loss and two sacks as a junior in 2018.

Why he’s special: He’s a physical specimen with a rare combination of strength and athleticism, giving him the versatility to be dominant in a number of defensive schemes.

***

Outside LBs/edge rushers

1. Nick Bosa, Ohio State, 6-4, 266, 21 years old.

Key stat: 17.5 sacks in 29 career games in college.

Why he’s special: Very powerful player, can shed single blocks and beat double teams and can get to the ball.

2. Josh Allen, Kentucky, 6-4, 262, 22 years old.

Key stat: 17 sacks in 2018 to finish with 31.5 in his college career.

Why he’s special: Quick burst with power as a pass rusher and is also able to cover as needed.

3. Brian Burns, Florida State, 6-5, 249, 20 years old.

Key stat: 23 sacks, 38.5 tackles for loss and seven forced fumbles in three-year career.

Why he’s special: Impressive speed (4.5-second 40) and has the ability to drop into coverage.

4. Clelin Ferrell, Clemson, 6-4, 264, 21 years old.

Key stat: Made 20 tackles for loss and forced three fumbles along with 11.5 sacks in 2018.

Why he’s special: Very powerful player with pass rush technique who also hustles.

5. Montez Sweat, Mississippi State, 6-6, 260

Key stat: Ran a 4.4-second 40-yard dash and an impressive 7-second three-cone drill.

Why he’s special: Length is tantalizing as is his room to get stronger and refine his pass rush, but has a good first step and can set an edge in the run game.

***

Inside linebackers

1. Devin White, LSU, 6-0, 237, 21 years old.

Key stat: A clear display of his athleticism, while he was at North Webster High School, White shined as a defender with 192 total tackles and as a running back with 5,301 total yards and 81 total touchdowns in his career.

Why he’s special: He doesn’t have optimal size for the position, but with a 4.42-second 40-yard dash and a football mind that’s still developing, the Butkus Award winner boasts the potential that can make him a three-down starter and sideline-to-sideline presence.

2. Devin Bush, Michigan, 5-11, 234, 20 years old

Key stat: He became just the fifth Wolverine in program history to win the Big Ten’s defensive player of the year award, joining Charles Woodson (1997), Larry Foote (2001), LaMarr Woodley (’06), and Jabrill Peppers (2016).

Why he’s special: Another athlete with blazing speed at the position (4.43-second 40-yard dash), Bush may slip slightly because of his lack of size, but his ability to cover opposing targets make him a candidate to immediately contribute as a starter.

3. Mack Wilson, Alabama, 6-1, 240, 21 years old.

Key stat: As a freshman for the Crimson Tide, Wilson lined up at H-back to help with blocking and even got on the stat sheet with his lone career reception, a one-yard touchdown against Kent State in September 2016.

Why he’s special: There’s a considerable drop-off in talent at the position after White and Bush, but Wilson is a technically-sound, consistent producer from one of the most stable programs that continuously churns out star defensive talent.

4. Vosean Joseph, Florida, 6-1, 230, 21 years old.

Key stat: In a 27-19 victory Oct. 6, 2018 against the then-ranked No. 5 LSU Tigers, Joseph totaled 14 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, and two sacks – each of which were career bests with the Gators.

Why he’s special: The knock on Joseph is that he disappears at time and has put up some disappointing performances on film, but when he’s at his best, he’s explosive and quick enough to collect plenty of tackles. At the next level it will be all about cleaning up his game.

5. Germaine Pratt, N.C. State, 6-2, 240, 22 years old.

Key stat: Pratt started as a free safety before making the switch to linebacker as a redshirt junior, but in his first three full seasons with the Wolfpack, he started just one game. His senior year, he started all 11 games he played.

Why he’s special: After shining at the combine, Pratt showed how his athleticism and time as a safety has honed his coverage skills. Now, he needs to keep developing his instincts and ability to process opposing offenses with more speed to excel as a linebacker in the NFL.

***

Cornerbacks

1. Greedy Williams, LSU, 6-2, 185, 21 years old.

Key stat: As a redshirt freshman in 2017, the two-time first-team all-SEC selection became the first LSU player to lead the conference in interceptions (six) since Crag Steltz in 2008.

Why he’s special: Williams has the length and ball skills NFL teams covet at the cornerback position. He’s not the most physical of players, but he should go somewhere in the middle of Round 1.

2. DeAndre Baker, Georgia, 5-11, 193, 21 years old.

Key stat: In 372 coverage snaps last season, Baker did not allow a touchdown, according to Pro Football Focus.

Why he’s special: The reining Thorpe Award winner isn’t as big or fast as Williams, he ran just a 4.52-second 40 at the NFL combine, but he’s a more versatile cover man who’s at home playing man or zone.

3. Byron Murphy, Washington, 5-11, 190, 21 years old.

Key stat: Scored the only touchdown in the Pac-12 championship game on a 66-yard interception return to lead Washington to a 10-3 win over Utah.

Why he’s special: Murphy redshirted as a true freshman and missed half the 2017 season with injury, but he’s one of the premier ballhawks in this class with seven interceptions and 27 passes defensed in 20 career games played.

4. Rock Ya-Sin, Temple, 6-2, 192, 22 years old.

Key stat: Wore No. 6 at Temple, a coveted single-digit jersey that coaches award to players they deem the toughest on the team, something he earned during spring practice after transferring from Presbyterian.

Why he’s special: Ya-Sin dominated at Presbyterian then more than held his own after transferring up a level when the Blue Hose moved down to Division II. He has a 39.5-inch vertical jump and the physicality to have an impact as a rookie.

5. Justin Layne, Michigan State, 6-2, 192, 21 years old

Key stat: Tied for first in the Big Ten and 10th nationally with 15 pass breakups last season.

Why he’s special: A decorated high school receiver who dabbled at the position in college, Layne has the potential to be better than ex-Spartan cornerbacks and first-round picks Darqueze Dennard and Trae Waynes because of his length and ball skills.

***

Safeties

1. Johnathan Abram, Mississippi State, 5-11, 205, 22 years old.

Key stat: Ranked third in the nation among safeties with 16 quarterback pressures, according to Pro Football Focus.

Why he’s special: Abram is a thunderous tackler who can do a little bit of everything from rush to cover to support the run. Some teams may view him as a strong safety only, but after starting part-time as a freshman at Georgia, dominating the junior-college ranks and then starring last year in the SEC, he should be the first safety off the board.

2. Nasir Adderley, Delaware, 6-0, 206, 21 years old.

Key stat: Started all 45 games in his college career and finished with 11 interceptions and two touchdowns, including one on a kick return.

Why he’s special: The cousin of Hall-of-Fame cornerback Herb Adderly started his college career as a cornerback before moving to safety in 2017. He’s rangy and athletic and fits as a free safety in the modern NFL.

3. Taylor Rapp, Washington, 6-0, 208, 21 years old.

Key stat: Ran a 4.74-second 40-yard dash at his pro day, according to NFL Network.

Why he’s special: Despite a slow 40-yard dash time that could impact his draft stock, Rapp is considered one of the more complete safeties in the class. He’s solid in run support, a good open-field tackler and had seven interceptions in his three-year career.

4. Deionte Thompson, Alabama, 6-1, 195, 22 years old.

Key stat: Forced four fumbles in 2018, tied for second most in a single season in Alabama history.

Why he’s special: Thompson was discussed as a potential top-15 pick before scouts took a long look at his play amid some late-season struggles, but he’s still a talented deep safety who filled up the stat sheet last year (79 tackles, two interceptions) in his only season as a starter.

5. Darnell Savage, Maryland, 5-11, 198, 21 years old

Key stat: Returned two of his eight career interceptions for touchdowns, and is tied for 14th in Maryland history with 153 career interception return yards.

Why he’s special: One of three safeties to run a sub-4.4-second 40 at the combine, Savage is a ball magnet who plays bigger than his size and has the ability to play in deep coverage or as a slot defender.

Contributing: Erik Bacharach, Dave Birkett, Alex Byington, Joel Erickson, Bob McManaman, Jim Owczarski, Lorenzo Reyes.

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