Penn State RB Saquon Barkley isn’t likely to be the No. 1 overall pick when the 2018 NFL Draft kicks off at the end of the month, but that doesn’t mean he’s not the best player available.

ESPN analyst Kirk Herbstreit says so, and one of his colleagues — draft expert Todd McShay — agrees.

McShay appeared on “The Dan Patrick Show” on Tuesday and didn’t hesitate at all when Patrick asked who he thought the best player in the draft was:

“Saquon Barkley, Penn State running back,” he said. “Now, I would lump into that top tier Quenton Nelson, the guard from Notre Dame, and Bradley Chubb, NC State defensive end. I think Chubb is, I hate the word ‘safe,’ but you talk about a guy that can defend the run, he’s a high-level pass rusher, great motor, practice player. He just brings everything to the table that you’re looking for.

“The beauty is, if you’re a team like Denver at five, or even Cleveland at four, because at least two quarterbacks are going to go in the top three, you’re going to wind up getting maybe the best, if not the second-best player in the draft.”

Barkley will almost certainly go in the top five, but exactly where remains to be seen. However, he could go as early as No. 2, where the New York Giants are picking.