Penn State running back Saquon Barkley is "firmly in the mix" to be taken No. 1 overall in the 2018 NFL Draft by the Cleveland Browns after dominating the combine, sources told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.
He would be the first running back taken at the top of the draft since the Cincinnati Bengals took Ki-Jana Carter - also of Penn State - in 1995.
Barkley has long been considered the premier prospect at his position but helped force his way into the conversation - which has been dominated by quarterbacks Sam Darnold and Josh Rosen - by producing a great 40-yard dash time and vertical leap.
It remains a question of positional value for Cleveland, however. The Browns have been highly criticized for passing on quarterbacks Deshaun Watson and Carson Wentz in years past, so taking a player like Barkley, who plays what's perceived as one of the lesser-valued positions, could be a risk.
Barkley lit up his final year in college, racking up 1,271 rushing yards, 271 receiving yards, and 21 total touchdowns.
