Saquon Barkley has met with the Denver Broncos at the Combine

GLENDALE, AZ - DECEMBER 30: Running back Saquon Barkley
GLENDALE, AZ - DECEMBER 30: Running back Saquon Barkley /
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Star running back Saquon Barkley said he has met with the Denver Broncos at the 2018 NFL Scouting Combine. He may be long gone by pick number five…

The Denver Broncos hold the fifth overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, and that’s probably not going to be high enough to pick Penn State’s star running back Saquon Barkley.

Barkley was absolutely incredible performing at the 2018 NFL Scouting Combine. Checking in at 6-foot, 233 pounds, he threw up 29 bench press reps at 225 pounds, ran a 4.40 second 40-yard dash, and had a 41-inch vertical jump to go along with just about every other freakish measurable you could have dreamed up.

The Denver Broncos, however, were not going to let him get out of Indianapolis without meeting with him.

Barkley said in a segment on NFL Network that he has met with the Broncos among a handful of other teams at the Combine, and it would be a surprise if the Broncos didn’t have Barkley out to the team facilities for a pre-draft visit given how high they are picking in this draft.

That is purely speculation on my part, however.

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One of the most explosive athletes in this year’s draft, Barkley is equally impressive in what he can do as a football player.

So often — too often — we have kids that come into the NFL with these great measurables, great athletic numbers, SPARQ scores, and whatever else, but they can’t actually play.

Barkley is not in the category of guys that can’t play.

Barkley is an absolute superstar in the making, which is why I led this post off by saying it’s not likely he makes it to the fifth overall pick. The Cleveland Browns picking first overall and the New York Giants picking second overall would almost certainly have interest in drafting him higher than Denver, and the Browns have two picks to play with in front of the Broncos.

If the Browns take a quarterback first overall, I would be pretty shocked if the Giants passed on Barkley at number two overall.

The Browns did say their number one pick is available, so if the Broncos really coveted Barkley, they could trade the farm and trade up, but that’s not likely to happen.

Meeting with Barkley before the draft might be the closest the Broncos actually come to having him on the roster when all is said and done, but we can dream.