2011 NFL Predictions: 7 Second-Year Players Who Will Have a Breakout Season

The 2010 NFL Draft class had talent from top to bottom.

Five players were able to make the Pro Bowl, and many others made significant contributions to their respective teams.

Then there were a few players who made an impact, but made you wonder if they were the real deal or just another draft bust.

Here are seven rookies from 2010 who are poised to have a breakout season in 2011.

Terrence Cody, DT (Baltimore Ravens)

When Cody first reported to Ravens practice last season, he was fat and out of shape.

The former All-American defensive lineman from Alabama was just a shadow of his former self in his rookie season last year. He finished the year with just 13 tackles in 13 games played, including one start.

Earlier this offseason, Baltimore decided to release former starting DT Kelly Gregg to help clear the way for Mount Cody to get his chance to shine this season.

Ryan Mathews, RB (San Diego Chargers)

The Chargers thought they got a steal when they were able to scoop up former Fresno State star RB Ryan Mathews with the 12th overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft.

After an above-average rookie season in the league, Mathews still left much to be desired out on the field.

Battling injuries during the season, he managed to play in 12 games and pick up nearly 700 yards on the ground to go along with seven touchdowns.

With another year of experience and the advantage of playing behind a solid offensive line, Mathews has a chance to do great things this year if he can just stay healthy.

Derrick Morgan, DE (Tennessee Titans)

Morgan was taken in the first round of last year's draft to help the Titans with their pass-rush.

Unfortunately, he only had a limited impact since he played just four games before his rookie season came to a crashing end with a torn ACL injury.

Morgan did show some flashes of greatness before he went down, recording 1.5 sacks in his limited playing time with the team.

Now he is fully healthy and ready to show the rest of the league why he was one of the most feared defensive linemen to ever come out of Georgia Tech.

Jahvid Best, RB (Detroit Lions)

Best was one of the most explosive backs in his draft class from a year ago. He managed to put together a solid rookie season in Detroit, gaining more than 1,000 yards from scrimmage and scoring six total touchdowns.

This season, he appears to be the starting RB for the Lions, especially after Mikel Leshoure went down with a season-ending Achilles injury earlier this week.

The former University of California back should get plenty of chances to shine out of the backfield and in the passing game this year for the Lions.

Tony Moeaki, TE (Kansas City Chiefs)

Chiefs second-year TE Tony Moeaki did a great impression of former All-Pro Tony Gonzalez in his rookie season.

Moeaki had more than 47 catches for 556 yards and three touchdowns in his inaugural NFL season. Over the course of the year, he showed the ability to block and catch passes at a high level, including a sensational TD grab against the 49ers in Week 3 of the campaign.

I expect bigger and better things out of Moeaki during his sophomore season in the NFL.

Sean Weatherspoon, LB (Atlanta Falcons)

If there's one thing that is for sure about Falcons linebacker Sean Weatherspoon, it's that he talks a mean game when he is on the field. He was without a doubt one of the team's vocal leaders on defense in his rookie season, except his play didn't always reflect the leader that he was becoming.

Weatherspoon finished the year with just 42 tackles and one sack in 11 games played.

I don't see the league being able to hold down "Spoon" in Year 2 of his NFL career.

Dez Bryant, WR (Dallas Cowboys)

Dez Bryant came into the league last year as one of the most heralded wide receivers of the 2010 rookie draft class.

He brought with him a first-year player's learning curve as well.

Bryant manged to catch 45 passes for 561 yards and six TDs, but he wasn't quite the threat the Cowboys thought he would be his first season in the league.

I look for that to change in 2011.