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Top 10 prospects at each position for 2017 NFL draft

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Kiper sees Watson going in middle of the first round (0:36)

Mel Kiper Jr. shares his expectations for where Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson could be drafted, and sees the Bills as a possibility. (0:36)

This is my last set of position rankings before the NFL combine at the end of the month. Now that we know which underclassmen are entering the draft, it's much easier to compile. This class looks strong at pass-rusher, cornerback and wide receiver, but it's weaker at quarterback and offensive tackle.

One asterisk denotes a junior, and two asterisks denote a redshirt sophomore for the 2016 season.

Quarterbacks

1. *Mitch Trubisky, North Carolina
2. *Deshaun Watson, Clemson
3. **DeShone Kizer, Notre Dame
4. *Patrick Mahomes, Texas Tech
5. *Brad Kaaya, Miami (Fla.)
6. *Jerod Evans, Virginia Tech
7. Nathan Peterman, Pitt
8. Davis Webb, California
9. Chad Kelly, Mississippi
10. Joshua Dobbs, Tennessee

I had Trubisky (6-3, 215) and Watson (6-3, 190) in the top 10 of Mock Draft 1.0. The combine will be big for Kizer and Mahomes, if only to get accurate measurements.

Running backs

1. *Leonard Fournette, LSU
2. *Dalvin Cook, Florida State
3. *Christian McCaffrey, Stanford
4. *D'Onta Foreman, Texas
5. **Joe Mixon, Oklahoma
6. *Alvin Kamara, Tennessee
7. *Samaje Perine, Oklahoma
8. Kareem Hunt, Toledo
9. Matthew Dayes, NC State
10. Jamaal Williams, BYU

Dayes (5-9, 190) is a complete back who can run, block and catch passes. He was solid during Senior Bowl week. Kamara (5-10, 215) is an intriguing player who started his career at Alabama and had only 210 carries the past two seasons for the Volunteers.

Fullbacks

1. Freddie Stevenson, Florida State
2. Sam Rogers, Virginia Tech
3. Shane Smith, San Jose State
4. Nate Iese, UCLA
5. Anthony Firkser, Harvard
6. Tyler McCloskey, Houston
7. Joe Bacci, Central Michigan
8. Algernon Brown, BYU
9. Prescott Line, Michigan State
10. Marquez Williams, Miami (Fla.)

Stevenson (6-1, 237) is my new No. 1 fullback. He's not flashy -- he caught only one pass in 2016 -- but he'll drive defenders backward.

Wide receivers

1. *Mike Williams, Clemson
2. Corey Davis, Western Michigan
3. *John Ross, Washington
4. *Curtis Samuel, Ohio State
5. *JuJu Smith-Schuster, USC
6. *ArDarius Stewart, Alabama
7. Zay Jones, East Carolina
8. Cooper Kupp, Eastern Washington
9. *Carlos Henderson, Louisiana Tech
10. Dede Westbrook, Oklahoma

Williams (6-3, 205) and Davis (6-2, 205) have separated from the pack. I'm excited to see what Samuel (5-11, 190) runs at the combine.

Tight ends

1. O.J. Howard, Alabama
2. **David Njoku, Miami (Fla.)
3. Evan Engram, Mississippi
4. *Bucky Hodges, Virginia Tech
5. Gerald Everett, South Alabama
6. Jake Butt, Michigan
7. Jordan Leggett, Clemson
8. Cole Hikutini, Louisville
9. *Adam Shaheen, Ashland
10. Michael Roberts, Toledo

A third-year sophomore, Njoku (6-4, 244) is a new addition to the Big Board. He was fantastic down the stretch of the season.

Offensive tackles

1. *Garett Bolles, Utah
2. *Cam Robinson, Alabama
3. *Ryan Ramczyk, Wisconsin
4. Dion Dawkins, Temple
5. *Roderick Johnson, Florida State
6. Taylor Moton, Western Michigan
7. Antonio Garcia, Troy
8. Adam Bisnowaty, Pitt
9. Dan Skipper, Arkansas
10. Will Holden, Vanderbilt

Bolles (6-5, 300) is my new No. 1 tackle, but it's close among the top three. Dawkins (6-5, 325) is going under the radar, but he could be a starting tackle or guard at the next level.

Offensive guards

1. Forrest Lamp, Western Kentucky
2. Dan Feeney, Indiana
3. Dorian Johnson, Pitt
4. Nico Siragusa, San Diego State
5. *Damien Mama, USC
6. Danny Isidora, Miami (Fla.)
7. Isaac Asiata, Utah
8. Jordan Morgan, Kutztown State
9. Zach Banner, USC
10. Jessamen Dunker, Tennessee State

I'm moving Banner (6-9, 350) from a guard to a tackle because I think that's where he'll end up. He could be a mauler along the interior.

Centers

1. Ethan Pocic, LSU
2. Pat Elflein, Ohio State
3. Tyler Orlosky, West Virginia
4. Jon Toth, Kentucky
5. Cameron Tom, Southern Mississippi
6. Chase Roullier, Wyoming
7. Kyle Fuller, Baylor
8. Jay Guillermo, Clemson
9. Lucas Crowley, North Carolina
10. Riley Sorenson, Washington State

A three-year starter at guard and center for the Buckeyes, Elflein (6-3, 300) has shown the versatility that NFL teams crave.

Defensive ends

1. *Myles Garrett, Texas A&M
2. Jonathan Allen, Alabama
3. **Solomon Thomas, Stanford
4. Taco Charlton, Michigan
5. *Derek Barnett, Tennessee
6. *Charles Harris, Missouri
7. *Carl Lawson, Auburn
8. Jordan Willis, Kansas State
9. DeMarcus Walker, Florida State
10. Tanoh Kpassagnon, Villanova

This class of pass-rushers is deep. I wouldn't be surprised if seven of these guys went in the first round.

Defensive tackles

1. *Malik McDowell, Michigan State
2. *Caleb Brantley, Florida
3. Carlos Watkins, Clemson
4. Chris Wormley, Michigan
5. *Elijah Qualls, Washington
6. *Nazair Jones, North Carolina
7. Montravius Adams, Auburn
8. Jaleel Johnson, Iowa
9. Ryan Glasgow, Michigan
10. Dalvin Tomlinson, Alabama

Adams (6-4, 305) flashes the ability of a first-round pick, but he has to be more consistent. A team could take a chance on him on Day 1 or 2.

Inside linebackers

1. Reuben Foster, Alabama
2. Jarrad Davis, Florida
3. *Raekwon McMillan, Ohio State
4. *Zach Cunningham, Vanderbilt
5. *Anthony Walker, Northwestern
6. Kendell Beckwith, LSU
7. Ben Gedeon, Michigan
8. Marquel Lee, Wake Forest
9. Harvey Langi, BYU
10. Ben Boulware, Clemson

The ultra-athletic Cunningham (6-4, 225) was one of the best defenders in the SEC as a junior.

Outside linebackers

1. Takkarist McKinley, UCLA
2. Tim Williams, Alabama
3. Haason Reddick, Temple
4. Ryan Anderson, Alabama
5. *T.J. Watt, Wisconsin
6. Duke Riley, LSU
7. Ejuan Price, Pitt
8. *Alex Anzalone, Florida
9. Tyus Bowser, Houston
10. Vince Biegel, Wisconsin

Reddick (6-1, 215) is a guy to watch here. He could play outside or inside linebacker. He had 10.5 sacks in 2016.

Cornerbacks

1. **Marshon Lattimore, Ohio State
2. *Teez Tabor, CB, Florida
3. Tre'Davious White, LSU
4. *Sidney Jones, Washington
5. *Quincy Wilson, Florida
6. **Marlon Humphrey, Alabama
7. Cordrea Tankersley, Clemson
8. *Gareon Conley, Ohio State
9. Jourdan Lewis, Michigan
10. Desmond King, Iowa

White (5-10, 170) made his Big Board debut in this edition. This is a solid cornerback class.

Safeties

1. *Jamal Adams, LSU
2. **Jabrill Peppers, Michigan
3. **Malik Hooker, Ohio State
4. *Budda Baker, Washington
5. *Marcus Williams, Utah
6. Obi Melifonwu, Connecticut
7. *Josh Jones, NC State
8. Marcus Maye, Florida
9. Justin Evans, Texas A&M
10. Eddie Jackson, Alabama

If Peppers (6-0, 210) is the draft's biggest enigma, Hooker (6-2, 205) is the biggest wild card -- he doesn't have much tape.

Kickers and punters

1. Zane Gonzalez, Arizona State (K)
2. Jake Elliott, Memphis (K)
3. Austin Rehkow, Idaho (P & K)
4. Justin Vogel, Miami (Fla) (P)
5. Toby Baker, Arkansas (P)
6. Cameron Johnston, Ohio State (P)
7. Younghoe Koo, Georgia Southern (K)
8. Hayden Hunt, Colorado St. (P)
9. Harrison Butker, Georgia Tech (K)
10. Eric Keena, North Texas (P)

Gonzalez (6-1, 160) led the country in field goals made from 40-plus and 50-plus yards.