2011 NFL Draft Value Rankings: The Top 10 Prospects at Each Position

We’re almost there folks.

The 2011 NFL Draft is just one week away.

Since the NFL is still in full lockout mode, next Thursday night is shaping up to be one of the most wild and unpredictable draft events in recent memory.

Sit back, break out a cold one, microwave some popcorn and enjoy it because it’s going to be an entertaining ride.

This year’s draft class is loaded with special prospects and there seems to be a potential star or two at nearly every position.

This draft is a tough one to project but here’s a look at how I would rank the top ten prospects at each position based on the order I feel they’ll come off the board next weekend.

Quarterbacks

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AUBURN, AL - SEPTEMBER 18: Cameron Newton #2 of the Auburn Tigers against the Clemson Tigers at Jordan-Hare Stadium on September 18, 2010 in Auburn, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

1. Cam Newton, Auburn

2. Blaine Gabbert, Missouri

3. Colin Kaepernick, Nevada

4. Jake Locker, Washington

5. Ryan Mallett, Arkansas

6. Andy Dalton, TCU

7. Christian Ponder, Florida State

8. Ricky Stanzi, Iowa

9. Greg McElroy, Alabama

10. Jeff Van Camp, Florida Atlantic

Running Backs

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CHAMPAIGN, IL - OCTOBER 02: Mikel Leshoure #5 of the Illinois Fighting Illini runs against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Memorial Stadium on October 2, 2010 in Champaign, Illinois. Ohio State defeated Illinois 24-13. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

1. Mikel Leshoure, Illinois

2. Mark Ingram, Alabama

3. Ryan Williams, Virginia Tech

4. Kendall Hunter, Oklahoma State

5. Taiwan Jones, Eastern Washington

6. Daniel Thomas, Kansas State

7. Shane Vereen, Cal Berkeley

8. Bilal Powell, Louisville

9. Dion Lewis, Pittsburgh

10. DeMarco Murray, Oklahoma

Wide Receivers

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ATHENS, GA - SEPTEMBER 12: A.J. Green #8 of the Georgia Bulldogs against the South Carolina Gamecocks at Sanford Stadium on September 12, 2009 in Athens, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

1. A.J. Green, Georgia

2. Julio Jones, Alabama

3. Jerrel Jernigan, Troy

4. Titus Young, Boise State

5. Greg Little, North Carolina

6. Torrey Smith, Maryland

7. Randall Cobb, Kentucky

8. Leonard Hankerson, Miami

9. Jonathan Baldwin, Pitt

10. Edmond Gates, Abilene Christian

Tight Ends

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SOUTH BEND, IN - OCTOBER 03: Kyle Rudolph #9 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish runs after making a catch against the Washington Huskies on October 3, 2009 at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Indiana. Notre Dame defeated Washington 37-30 in overtime. (Pho

1. Kyle Rudolph, Notre Dame

2. Virgil Green, Nevada

3. Lance Kendricks, Wisconsin

4. Luke Stocker, Tennessee

5. Jordan Cameron, USC

6. Charles Clay, Tulsa

7. D.J. Williams, Arkansas

8. Julius Thomas, Portland State

9. Rob Housler, Florida Atlantic

10. Daniel Hardy, Idaho

Offensive Tackles

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TEMPE, AZ - NOVEMBER 7: Tyron Smith #70 of the USC Trojans stretches before the game against the Arizona State Sun Devils on November 7, 2009 at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Arizona. USC won 14-9. (Photo by Jeff Golden/Getty Images)

1. Tyron Smith, USC

2. Anthony Castonzo, Boston College

3. Gabe Carimi, Wisconsin

4. Derek Sherrod, Mississippi State

5. Marcus Gilbert, Florida

6. Nate Solder, Colorado

7. Marcus Cannon, TCU

8. Orlando Franklin, Miami

9. Ben Ijalana, Villanova

10. James Carpenter, Alabama

Interior Offensive Linemen

1. Danny Watkins, Baylor

2. Mike Pouncey, Florida

3. Rodney Hudson, Florida State

4. Clint Boling, Georgia

5. Will Rackley, Lehigh

6. John Moffitt, Wisconsin

7. Stefen Wisniewski, Penn State

8. Joseph Barksdale, LSU

9. Keith Williams, Nebraska

10. Alex Linnenkohl, Oregon State

3-4 Defensive Linemen

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MOBILE, AL - JANUARY 29:Defensive lineman Cameron Jordan #97 of the North Team during the Under Armour Senior Bowl on January 29, 2011 at Ladd-Pebbles Stadium in Mobile, Alabama. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images for Under Armour)

1. Cameron Jordan, Cal

2. J.J. Watt, Wisconsin

3. Christian Ballard, Iowa

4. Muhammad Wilkerson, Temple

5. Phil Taylor, Baylor

6.  Cameron Heyward, Ohio State

7. Allen Bailey, Miami

8. Ian Williams, Notre Dame

9. Brandon Bair, Oregon

10. Lawrence Guy, Arizona State

Defensive Tackles

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PASADENA, CA - JANUARY 07: Lineman Marcell Dareus #57 of the Alabama Crimson Tide celebrates after an interception returned for a touchdown against the Texas Longhorns during the second quarter of the Citi BCS National Championship game at the Rose Bowl

1. Marcell Dareus, Alabama

2. Nick Fairley, Auburn

3. Corey Liuget, Illinois

4. Jarvis Jenkins, Clemson

5. Stephen Paea, Oregon State

6. Marvin Austin, North Carolina

7. Terrell McClain, South Florida

8. Kenrick Ellis, Hampton

9. Drake Nevis, LSU

10. Jurrell Casey, USC

Defensive Ends

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INDIANAPOLIS, IN - FEBRUARY 28: Defensive lineman Robert Quinn of North Carolina runs through a drill during the 2011 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 28, 2011 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)

1. Robert Quinn, North Carolina

2. Aldon Smith, Missouri

3. Da’Quan Bowers, Clemson

4. Ryan Kerrigan, Purdue

5. Adrian Clayborn, Iowa

6. Jeremy Beal, Oklahoma

7. Pernell McPhee, Mississippi State

8. Greg Romeus, Pitt

9. Cliff Matthews, South Carolina

10. Pierre Allen, Nebraska

3-4 Rush Linebackers

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INDIANAPOLIS, IN - FEBRUARY 28: Von Miller of Texas A&M works out during the 2011 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 28, 2011 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)

1. Von Miller, Texas A&M

2. Akeem Ayers, UCLA

3. Justin Houston, Georgia

4. Jabaal Sheard, Pitt

5. Brooks Reed, Arizona

6. Sam Acho, Texas

7. Chris Carter, Fresno State

8. Dontay Moch, Nevada

9. Cheta Ozougwu, Rice

10. Ugo Chinasa, Oklahoma State

Outside Linebackers

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CHAPEL HILL, NC - NOVEMBER 08: Linebacker Bruce Carter #54 of the North Carolina Tar Heels reacts after a defensive stop against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets during the game at Kenan Stadium on November 8, 2008 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo

1. Bruce Carter, North Carolina

2. Mason Foster, Washington

3. Colin McCarthy, Miami

4. K.J. Wright, Mississippi State

5. Ross Homan, Ohio State

6. Doug Hogue, Syracuse

7. Lawrence Wilson, Connecticut

8. Mark Herzlich, Boston College

9. Jonas Mouton, Michigan

10. D.J. Smith, Appalachian State

Inside Linebackers

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MINNEAPOLIS, MN - NOVEMBER 03: Linebacker Martez Wilson #2 of the Illinois Fighting Illini on the bench against the Minnesota Golden at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome on November 3, 2007 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Illinois defeated Minnesota 44-17. (P

1. Martez Wilson, Illinois

2. Quan Sturdivant, North Carolina

3. Casey Matthews, Oregon

4. Greg Jones, Michigan State

5. Akeem Dent, Georgia

6. Kelvin Sheppard, LSU

7. Nate Irving, North Carolina State

8. Mario Harvey, Marshall

9. Chris White, Mississippi State

10. Nick Bellore, Central Michigan

Cornerbacks

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BATON ROUGE, LA - NOVEMBER 13: Patrick Peterson #7 of the Louisiana State University Tigers runs back an interception against the Louisiana Monroe Warhawks at Tiger Stadium on November 13, 2010 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty I

1. Patrick Peterson, LSU

2. Prince Amukamara, Nebraska

3. Jimmy Smith, Colorado

4. Ras-I Dowling, Virginia

5. Johnny Patrick, Louisville

6. Brandon Harris, Miami

7. Buster Skrine, Chattanooga

8. Curtis Brown, Texas

9. Chimdi Chekwa, Ohio State

10. Brandon Burton, Utah

Safeties

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AUSTIN, TX - SEPTEMBER 25: Cornerback Aaron Williams #4 of the Texas Longhorns at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on September 25, 2010 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

1. Aaron Williams, Texas

2. Rahim Moore, UCLA

3. Marcus Gilchrist, Clemson

4. Robert Sands, West Virginia

5. Quinton Carter, Oklahoma

6. Jaiquawn Jarrett, Temple

7. Ahmad Black, Florida

8. DeAndre McDaniel, Clemson

9. Eric Hagg, Nebraska

10. Joe Lefeged, Rutgers