COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio State has seen three of its players drafted as top five picks in the NFL Draft the last three years, with Denzel Ward going No. 4 to the Browns this year and Joey Bosa and Ezekiel Elliott going No. 3 and No. 4 in 2016.

But no Buckeye has been the overall No. 1 pick since Orlando Pace in 1997.

Nick Bosa could follow Pace, 22 years later.

ESPN NFL reporter Adam Schefter reported just after the 2018 draft ended Saturday, with seven Buckeyes selected, that Bosa is being talked about as a candidate at No. 1 a year from now.

That's no surprise.

Two NFL personnel men predicted last week that the early favorite to become the No. 1 pick of the 2019 NFL Draft is....Ohio St. DE Nick Bosa. They believe he’s going to be a better player than his older brother Joey. — Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 28, 2018

Bosa, who will be a junior in the fall, will definitely declare for the draft after three years in college, just like his brother did. Anyone who has watched Bosa as a Buckeye, or who followed his recruitment to Ohio State, isn't surprised by any talk like this.

Joey Bosa was a two-time All-American and in the pros has 23 sacks in 27 games. He's a star. But the idea of Nick being even better than Joey has been put forth since Nick was in high school.

Bosa will certainly become the fourth member of his family to be a first-round pick as an NFL defensive end, which is just crazy. The Bosas' father, John, was the No. 16 pick of the 1987 draft out of Boston College, and their uncle, Erik Kumerow, was the No. 16 pick the next year out of Ohio State.

Both were selected by the Dolphins, which is how John Bosa met and married Kumerow's sister, Cheryl, and this defensive end lineage was created.

The 2019 draft class is expected to be stacked with defensive linemen. Among those expected to contend with Bosa for the No. 1 pick are Houston tackle Ed Oliver, Clemson linemen Dexter Lawrence, Christian Wilkins and Cielin Ferrell and Michigan's Rashan Gary.

And then in 2020? Watch for Ohio State defensive end Chase Young.