Which college could build the best NFL lineup: Alabama, Ohio State or LSU?

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No. 1 LSU
OFFENSE

QB Joe Burrow (Cincinnati Bengals)
RB Leonard Fournette (Jacksonville Jaguars)
WR Odell Beckham Jr. (Cleveland Browns)
WR Jarvis Landry (Browns)
TE Foster Moreau (Las Vegas Raiders)
Flex Clyde Edwards-Helaire (Kansas City Chiefs)
OT Andrew Whitworth (Los Angeles Rams)
G Trai Turner (Los Angeles Chargers)
C Lloyd Cushenberry (Denver Broncos)
G Ethan Pocic (Seattle Seahawks)
OT La'el Collins (Dallas Cowboys)

DEFENSE

Edge Danielle Hunter (Minnesota Vikings)
DT Michael Brockers (Rams)
DT Davon Godchaux (Miami Dolphins)
Edge K'Lavon Chaisson (Jaguars)
LB Deion Jones (Atlanta Falcons)
LB Devin White (Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
Flex Kwon Alexander (49ers)
CB Tre'Davious White (Buffalo Bills)
CB Patrick Peterson (Arizona Cardinals)
S Tyrann Mathieu (Chiefs)
S Jamal Adams (New York Jets)

Biggest strength: Defensive back. No big deal -- just three guys who were named first-team All-Pro in 2019 (Adams, Mathieu and White). Plus Peterson, who has been named first-team All-Pro three times. This was the ultimate clash of the titans between LSU and Alabama when our panelists chose Adams, Mathieu and White ahead of Minkah Fitzpatrick, Eddie Jackson and Marlon Humphrey for our all-SEC roster. "I love how White, Peterson, Adams and Mathieu play with the 'DOG' mindset that has made LSU the new DBU," said Davenport, who voted for all four of them on his all-SEC ballot along with South Carolina cornerback Stephon Gilmore. "Peterson and White are two of the best cover corners in the league, while Mathieu and Adams are two of the most versatile defensive backs."

Missing pieces: TE, interior OL. OK, so no team is perfect. But maybe these positions will become loaded as well if rookie center Cushenberry, rookie guard Damien Lewis and rookie TEs Thaddeus Moss and Stephen Sullivan break out.

Player pitch from Browns WR Jarvis Landry: "It translates [to the NFL]. Mostly every guy you have seen come from LSU has had the opportunity to play right away or within their first two years and make an impact. We just added more swagger and more guys who are ready to play and know how to play the game at a high level [by tying the record with 14 players selected in a seven-round draft]."

How essential was Burrow in determining the pecking order? Not only did he provide the Tigers with the QB they so desperately needed, but he actually began his career at Ohio State before transferring to LSU and producing one of the greatest seasons in college football history.

"I think Ohio State is better than LSU at most positions. But LSU has an edge in the secondary and, seemingly, at quarterback," said college football reporter Adam Rittenberg. "The irony is that Burrow would have been Ohio State's No. 2 QB in 2017 if not for a hand injury right before the season. I still remember sitting in a QB meeting that August with Ryan Day, J.T. Barrett, Burrow, Haskins and Tate Martell. At that point, Burrow was definitely No. 2, but the hand injury set him back. Then Haskins replaced Barrett against Michigan and played well and entered 2018 as the clear No. 1, prompting Burrow to transfer.

"While I feel Burrow likely will be better than Haskins, we still need to see what Haskins can do with more time."

Another panelist, Cleveland Browns reporter Jake Trotter, said he would have ranked Ohio State No. 1 if not for Burrow. College reporter Andrea Adelson said she took quarterback out of the equation when she ranked LSU No. 1 because she didn't feel like any of the three schools had a major advantage with so little NFL experience at the position.

"So I looked at other positions. And with what I feel are advantages at the skill positions and the defensive backfield, I went with LSU," Adelson said.

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