NFL Draft 2011: 10 Second-Round Picks Who Could Become Superstars in the NFL

Finding talent in the second round of the NFL draft is always tough, but some superstars have come out it. 

Isaac Bruce, Michael Strahan, Howie Long, Shaun Rogers, Darren Sharper and Brett Favre were all selected in the second round and all had or are having amazing careers so far. 

Look at Favre, for example, who was a second-round quarterback; he led his team to two Super Bowls and could be argued as the best quarterback ever to play the game.

Getting a superstar in the second shows how good a teams scouting department is.

Here are my 10 second-round picks who could become superstars in the NFL.

I am using Todd McShay's second-round mock draft off of ESPN.com.

Also follow me on Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/BIGben2010

10. Kelvin Sheppard

Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

ATLANTA - SEPTEMBER 4: Kelvin Sheppard #11 of the LSU Tigers tackles Johnny White #34 of the North Carolina Tar Heels at the Georgia Dome September 4, 2010 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

After three solid years of playing linebacker at LSU, Kelvin Sheppard is now looking to get drafted in the second round of the NFL draft.

Sheppard amassed over 100 tackles his junior and senior years and was pretty much the leader of the a very good LSU defense.

His height and weight are average for a middle linebacker in the NFL at 6'1" and 250 pounds. He likes to play hard and make big stops when needed.

I can see Sheppard in the NFL being a very solid linebacker who gets the job done no matter what no excuses. He might not be the fastest, strongest or most athletic guy on the field but his effort is very high and he will not give up on a play even if he gets beat. 

9. Aaron Williams

Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

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)

Aaron Williams is going to be a steal in the second round with his great size at the cornerback position. He is a hard-hitting cornerback that could turn into a safety cornerback combo in the NFL because of his size and his ability to make an open field tackle.

Williams sometimes has trouble because he gives a receiver a little bit too much room and at times his jump to deflect the ball is not timed well.

But Williams is going to be fine in the NFL. He is a great tackler and his ball skills are very good. If a team plays him at safety in the NFL he will have a phenomenal career for a second-round pick.

8. Titus Young

Christian Petersen/Getty Images

GLENDALE, AZ - JANUARY 04: Titus Young #4 of the Boise State Broncos looks on against the TCU Horned Frogs during the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl at the Universtity of Phoenix Stadium on January 4, 2010 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty

After being the main target the past two years at Boise state, Titus Young looks to take his game to the NFL. He is one of the smaller receivers in the draft but he is extremely quick and shifty.

Young ran a 4.43 40-yard dash at the combine and he plays very fast when he makes a catch. Young also runs punts back very well. He averaged 10.8 yards every time he ran back a punt and helped the offense set up in a good position almost every time.

Drafting Young in the second round will give a team a nice deep threat in the passing game and someone who can return punts really well. 

7. Stephen Paea

Christian Petersen/Getty Images

TUCSON, AZ - OCTOBER 09: Defensive tackle Stephen Paea #54 of the Oregon State Beavers during the college football game against the Arizona Wildcats at Arizona Stadium on October 9, 2010 in Tucson, Arizona. The Beavers defeated the Wildcats 29-27. (Pho

Stephen Paea had three outstanding seasons at Oregon State while playing defensive tackle. He is a very powerful lineman with good hands but his size is just average. Another downside to Paea is his injury past.

But if he can get past the injuries Paea will have a fine career in the NFL. He is very tough and has a motor that never stops. He can break through double teams easily and is fast enough to catch up to quarterbacks and running backs in the backfield for a loss of yards. 

Paea is mostly known for his strength. During the combine he benched 225 pounds 49 times which shattered the record, and he is known for putting offensive lineman right on their butts.

If he can stay away from the injuries during his career, then he won't have a difficult time in the NFL with his amazing strength. 

6. Andy Dalton

Jeff Gross/Getty Images

PASADENA, CA - JANUARY 01: Quarterback Andy Dalton #14 of the TCU Horned Frogs throws a pass against the Wisconsin Badgers in the 97th Rose Bowl game on January 1, 2011 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)

All Andy Dalton did in college at TCU was win. He put up great numbers and led the team to three bowl games including a Rose Bowl victory over Big 10 champion Wisconsin.

But Dalton doesn't have all the ability to be a star quarterback in the league. He's not the fastest, strongest or most athletic, but he's a leader who will make smart decisions.

Dalton will win games with his smart passes and the way he leads a team. Even if his arm is not the strongest, he can make very accurate passes with ease.

Watch out for Dalton in the future.

5. Mason Foster

Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images

SEATTLE - SEPTEMBER 11: Linebacker Mason Foster #40 of the Washington Huskies follows the play during the game against the Syracuse Orange on September 11, 2010 at Husky Stadium in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)

Mason Foster from the University of Washington is one of the best outside linebackers in the NFL draft this year. His stock rose a lot after a good combine work out and then an even better pro day.

But he didn't just rise up the boards because of his 40 time; this guy can flat out play football. Foster was second in the nation his senior year in tackles with 163 tackles and averaged about 12 tackles per game. If you ever watched him play you know he is all over the field and has a motor that never stops.

Foster sheds blocks very well and is good at wrapping up a player. He has near-perfect fundamentals when tackling. His size isn't bad either and if a team drafts him in the second round, he could really make a difference on a defense.

4. Randall Cobb

Andy Lyons/Getty Images

LEXINGTON, KY - NOVEMBER 13: Randall Cobb #18 of the Kentucky Wildcats runs with the ball during the game against the Vanderbilt Commodores at Commonwealth Stadium on November 13, 2010 in Lexington, Kentucky. Kentucky won 38-20. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Get

Speed kills, and that's what University of Kentucky wide receiver Randall Cobb has. Cobb is reported to run a 4.46 but plays faster than that on the football field. 

He isn't the biggest guy on the field, but he can play multiple positions. In college Cobb played running back, wide receiver, quarterback and returned kicks. He was an All-American and his competitiveness is undeniable.

Cobb fights for extra yards every time he catches the ball. He is also a above average blocker for being his size. Cobb will be dangerous in the NFL because of his speed and his ability to play multiple positions.

3. Ryan Mallett

Matthew Stockman/Getty Images

NEW ORLEANS, LA - JANUARY 04: Quarterback Ryan Mallett #15 of the Arkansas Razorbacks looks to pass against the Ohio State Buckeyes during the Allstate Sugar Bowl at the Louisiana Superdome on January 4, 2011 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Matthew

Ryan Mallett from the University of Arkansas has the strongest arm in the draft, no doubt about it. He can throw the ball almost anywhere on the field with pretty good accuracy. 

Mallett does have some problems though. His pocket mobility is extremely poor and he will have trouble against faster defensive players in the NFL. His decision making isn't the best either, but his most likely problem in the NFL is his off-the-field issues.

Mallett was arrested for public intoxication in 2009 and has been linked to other issues such as drugs and being a bad teammate. In my own opinion I think some of this is a little bit blown out of proportion but one mistake could cost him a lot of money in the NFL and maybe his career.

If Mallett goes in the second round and keeps himself clean in the NFL, he'll be fine and go on and be a pretty good quarterback.

2. Kyle Rudolph

Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

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

The best tight end in the draft is Kyle Rudolph from Notre Dame. Rudolph possesses everything a tight end needs and could do some real damage in the NFL.

Rudolph has great hands for a tight end and can block pretty well to. He had three productive seasons at Notre Dame helping the offense with his hands and blocking. His size is above average for a tight end at 6'6" and 260 pounds and he moves very well for being that large.

One knock on Rudolph is his history of injury. He only played in six games last season before leaving with a hamstring injury. He has also had surgery on his shoulder after an injury in the 2009 season.

But if Rudolph stays healthy in the NFL he will be making big plays at the tight end position and will help a team succeed.

1. Christian Ponder

Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images

TALLAHASSEE, FL - NOVEMBER 27: Christian Ponder #7 of the Florida State Seminoles throws for a first down during a game against the Florida Gators at Doak Campbell Stadium on November 27, 2010 in Tallahassee, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images

The player to have the best NFL career coming out of the second round is quarterback Christian Ponder from Florida State.

Ponder is a multi-dimensional quarterback who has pocket mobility when needed. He doesn't have the prototypical size for an NFL quarterback but that won't stop him. Ponder is a natural leader who has an above average arm. 

His accuracy is one of his stronger suits but his arm is a little bit weak. Ponder reminds me of Drew Brees, there size is similar and so is there arm strength. Ponder does have more mobility though.

If Ponder gets drafted to the right team and can avoid injuries, then watch for him to have great career in the NFL.