NFL Draft: QB Joe Burrow, WRs and tackles headline draft

Top offensive players available in the NFL draft (x-entered draft with college eligibility remaining).

QUARTERBACKS

Position outlook: The presumptive No. 1 overall, a likely top-five pick with injury concerns, another first-rounder — but how high? — and a real wild card.

Joe Burrow, 6-foot-3, 221 pounds, LSU

Strengths: Accuracy, poise and athleticism, plus the ability to command an offense.

Weaknesses: Doesn’t have the biggest arm.

Fact: The Heisman Trophy winner almost doubled his 2018 passing yards per game (222.6) in 2019 (429.2).

Gone by: Once again, Burrow will be No. 1.

x-Tua Tagovailoa, 6-0, 217, Alabama

Strengths: Quick release, with excellent mid-range accuracy and nimble feet.

Weaknesses: Coming off a serious hip injury.

Fact: Threw 76 touchdown passes in 24 starts the past two seasons.

Gone by: Injury history is the only thing that could keep him out of the top five.

Justin Herbert, 6-6, 236, Oregon

Strengths: Ideal size and a good athlete.

Weaknesses: Spotty touch. His passes often sail when he lets loose.

Fact: Surprisingly returned for his senior year to his hometown school and increased his completion percentage from 59.4 percent to 66.8.

Gone by: Conservatively, top-12.

x-Jordan Love, 6-4, 224, Utah State

Strengths: Big and talented arm. Tall, smooth athlete.

Weaknesses: Telegraphs some throws and will bail out of workable pockets at times.

Fact: TD-to-INT ratio went from 32:6 in 2018 to 20:17 last season.

Gone by: Top-10. Or early Day 2.

Others: x-Jake Fromm, Georgia; x-Jacob Eason, Washington; Jalen Hurts, Oklahoma.

RUNNING BACKS

Position outlook: We all know the deal with running backs not getting the love they once did in the NFL, but a couple of these guys could slip into the first round.

x-Jonathan Taylor, 5-10, 226, Wisconsin

Strengths: Checks all the boxes for size and speed and rarely misses a snap.

Weaknesses: Ball security. And durability can work against a guy who carried such a heavy load in college.

Fact: Carried 926 times for 6,174 yards in three seasons.

Gone by: Early second round.

x-D’Andre Swift, 5-8, 212, Georgia

Strengths: Quick cuts combined with good vision.

Weaknesses: Gets home-run happy at times instead of moving piles forward.

Fact: Never had more than 220 touches from scrimmage in a college season.

Gone by: Middle of the second, but probably the running back most likely to be a first-round pick.

x-Clyde Edwards-Helaire, 5-7, 207, LSU;

Strengths: Shifty with great balance.

Weaknesses: So-so speed, especially for his size.

Fact: Had 55 receptions for 453 yards last season.

Gone by: Late second.

Others: x-J.K. Dobbins, Ohio State; x-Cam Akers, Florida State; Zack Moss, Utah; x-AJ Dillon, Boston College.

TACKLES

Position outlook: The deepest position in the draft after wide receiver. Likely to produce three top-15 picks and about a half-dozen first-rounders.

x-Jedrick Wills, 6-4, 312, Alabama

Strengths: Plays smart and mean.

Weaknesses: Lacks ideal size.

Fact: Allowed one sack in 39 college games, playing exclusively at right tackle.

Gone by: Top 15.

x-Mekhi Becton, 6-7, 365, Louisville

Strengths: Huge and nimble for his size.

Weaknesses: Technique needs to be refined.

Fact: Has 7-foot wingspan.

Gone by: Top 15.

x-Tristan Wirfs, 6-5, 320, Iowa

Strengths: Rare athleticism for his size.

Weaknesses: Arm length is less than ideal.

Fact: Ran a 4.85-second 40-yard dash at the combine.

Gone by: Top 15.

x-Andrew Thomas, 6-5, 315, Georgia

Strengths: Strong hands and the ability to play either side of the line.

Weaknesses: Can get off-balance and heavy on his feet.

Fact: Three-year starter and All-American last season.

Gone by: Early second

Josh Jones, 6-5, 319, Houston

Strengths: Fluid athlete.

Weaknesses: Needs to add power in run blocking.

Fact: Four-year starter at left tackle.

Gone by: Early second.

x-Austin Jackson, 6-4, 322, USC

Strengths: Long arms and light on his feet.

Weaknesses: High upside, but very raw.

Fact: Turns 21 in August, making him one of the youngest players available in the draft.

Gone by: Middle of the second.

x-Isaiah Wilson, 6-6, 350, Georgia

Strengths: Ideal size and build.

Weaknesses: Fundamentals and technique have a ways to go.

Fact: Two-year starter at right tackle who redshirted as a freshman.

Gone by: Widest range of possibilities, from middle of the first to middle of the third.

x-Ezra Cleveland, 6-6, 311, Boise State

Strengths: Natural athlete for his size.

Weaknesses: Needs to play with more power.

Fact: Late bloomer in high school who started drawing interest as a junior.

Gone by: Middle of the second.

Others: Lucas Niang, TCU; Prince Tega Wanogho, Auburn; Alex Taylor, South Carolina State.

INTERIOR LINEMAN

Position outlook: Maybe a late first-rounder in this group.

x-Cesar Ruiz, 6-2, 307, Michigan

Strengths: Solid build. Plays smart and instinctive.

Weaknesses: Quickness is lacking.

Fact: Started the final 31 games of his career.

Gone by: Middle of the second.

Others: Lloyd Cushenberry, center, LSU; John Simpson, guard, Clemson; Robert Hunt, guard, Louisiana-Lafayette; Netane Muti, guard, Fresno State.

WIDE RECEIVERS

Position outlook: There are so many good options at receiver in this class teams might look elsewhere in the first round and circle back in Day 2.

x-Jerry Jeudy, 6-1, 193, Alabama

Strengths: Smooth and polished route runner with excellent burst.

Weaknesses: Slim build lacks strength.

Fact: Caught 26 touchdown passes, second behind only Amari Cooper in Alabama history.

Gone by: About No. 12.

x-CeeDee Lamb, 6-1, 195, Oklahoma

Strengths: Game-breaking elusiveness after the catch.

Weaknesses: Will have to develop quickness off the line to beat press coverage.

Fact: All-American and Biletnikoff Award finalist last season.

Gone by: About No. 12.

x-Henry Ruggs III, 5-11, 188, Alabama

Strengths: Elite speed and acceleration.

Weaknesses: His game is somewhat limited but what he does well is hard to find.

Fact: Almost 25% of his 98 career receptions went for touchdowns (24).

Gone by: Top 20.

x-Justin Jefferson, 6-1, 202, LSU

Strengths: Dominated from the slot with great body control.

Weaknesses: Size and strength weren’t tested much in LSU’s offense.

Fact: Led major college football with 111 catches last year for 1,540 yards.

Gone by: End of the first round.

x-Tee Higgins, 6-4, 216, Clemson

Strengths: Takes advantage of his size to make contested catches.

Weaknesses: Doesn’t get a lot of separation in his routes.

Fact: Tied DeAndre Hopkins and Sammy Watkins with school-record 27 touchdown catches at Clemson.

Gone by: Middle of the second.

Denzel Mims, 6-2, 207, Baylor

Strengths: Blazing speed and long arms.

Weaknesses: Inconsistent hands. Makes great catches, drops some easy ones.

Fact: Texas state 3A high school champion in the 200-meter dash.

Gone by: Middle of the second.

x-Laviska Shenault Jr., 6-1, 227, Colorado

Strengths: Powerful and explosive player getting to the ball and running with it after the catch.

Weaknesses: Injuries limited him to short bursts of high-level production.

Fact: Scored six touchdowns receiving and five rushing in his breakout 2018 season.

Gone by: Anywhere from end of Round 1 to end of Round 3.

Brandon Aiyuk, 6-0, 205, Arizona State

Strengths: Dangerous after the catch.

Weaknesses: Needs to play stronger in traffic.

Fact: Missed the Senior Bowl after abdominal injury.

Gone by: Middle of the second.

x-K.J. Hamler, 5-9, 185, Penn State

Strengths: Elusive with uncommon burst of speed.

Weaknesses: Undersized and had some drops last season.

Fact: Torn ACL cost him senior year of high school and he redshirted as a freshman in college.

Gone by: Some team might see Tyreek Hill-type playmaker and grab him in the first round. Or he could slip to Day 3.

Chase Claypool, 6-4, 238, Notre Dame

Strengths: Huge with 4.42 speed.

Weaknesses: Much room for improvement in route running. Could end up as a tight end.

Fact: Grew up in British Columbia, Canada, just north of the U.S. border.

Gone by: End of Day 2.

x-Jalen Reagor, 5-10, 206, TCU

Strengths: Speed to get deep and shiftiness to turn short plays into long gains.

Weaknesses: Can get pushed around in coverage.

Fact: The son of former Texas Tech star and longtime NFL defensive lineman Montae Reagor.

Gone by: Middle of Day 2.

Michael Pittman, 6-4, 223, Southern California.

Strengths: Big receiver who can overwhelm defenders with size and body control.

Weaknesses: Lacks quickness.

Fact: Father Michael Pittman played running back for Fresno State and 11 seasons in the NFL.

Gone by: End of Day 2.

Others: Van Jefferson, Florida; Bryan Edwards, South Carolina; K.J. Hill, Ohio State; Collin Johnson, Texas; Lynn Bowden, Kentucky.

TIGHT ENDS

Position outlook: Even the best players in this group aren’t first-round locks.

x-Cole Kmet, 6-6, 262, Notre Dame

Strengths: Big target who can overpower tacklers.

Weaknesses: Needs lot of work as a blocker.

Fact: Played baseball at Notre Dame and had 10 saves in 34 games as a left-handed reliever.

Gone by: Middle of the second round.

Others: Harrison Bryant, FAU; Adam Trautman, Dayton; Albert Okwuegbunam, Missouri; Hunter Bryant, Washington.

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