Offensive tackle Samuel Cosmi and edge rusher Joseph Ossai are expected to be the first pair of Texas players taken off of the board in the 2021 NFL draft.
They each rank among the top prospects at their positions and have been selected in the first round of numerous mock drafts. Additionally, they play premium positions that teams are always looking to upgrade and draft higher than other positions.
Cosmi has been lauded for his large frame, long arms, and his pass blocking abilities which were among the best in the country and the highest in the Big 12.
Sam Cosmi: Highest pass-blocking OT in the Big 12 this season (89.4) pic.twitter.com/Ii4zZIPAEg
— PFF Draft (@PFF_College) November 29, 2020
Ossai has been lauded for his position flexibility from a defensive end to outside linebacker and ability to play the run, among the best in the country.
Some interesting Texas superlatives courtesy of @PFF_College:
-Chris Brown #1 rated S in Big 12
-Ta'Quon Graham #1 DT in B12
-Joseph Ossai #1 Edge Defender vs Run D in B12
-Derek Kerstetter #1 Pass Blocking C in B12
-Sam Cosmi #1 Pass Blocking T in B12
-Ryan Bujcevski #1 P – B12— Alex Loeb (@SpanningTheLoeb) November 18, 2020
They’re both skilled enough to be first round picks. Unfortunately, not only is the draft impossible to predict, but they’re both in circumstances that could cause them to fall out of the first round.
Cosmi is among a very deep offensive tackle draft. Names such as Penei Sewell, Rashawn Slater, Christian Darrisaw, Jaylen Mayfield, Alex Leatherwood, Liam Eichenberg and Teven Jenkins are all offensive lineman that have been mentioned as first round worthy.
In drafts that are deep with premium players in a position, it means that the players who would normally get picked higher end up falling in the draft to to the next day. Teams instead will opt to take first round talent at positions that are not nearly as deep.
For example, Texas ex Connor Williams was thought to be among the best overall offensive lineman in the 2017 NFL draft. That draft included other tackle prospects like Mike McGlinchey and Kolton Miller. Williams fell down to the No. 50 overall selection in the second round.
It benefits Ossai, but also hurts him, to be in a draft class without an elite edge rusher prospect. There’s no Myles Garrett or Chase Young in this draft that teams are confident will be a star.
The most common names that have been talked about at the position are Azeez Ojulari, Gregory Rousseau and Kwity Paye. None of these are being talked about consistently as top 10 overall draft picks and there’s no clear number one edge.
It’s helpful because edge rusher is a premium position that’s continuously getting drafted higher than others. It’s one of the highest regarded in the game.
The issue is that this years draft class of edge rushers reminds me a bit of the 2013 NFL draft. The best edge rusher that year was Ezekiel Ansah in what was overall a disappointing draft for the position.
Ossai could end up taken in the first round, if nothing else, for his position flexibility. It’s not a great draft for teams looking for players to get sacks, but Ossai’s ability to go from playing in a two-point stance to a three-point stance could be enough for a team to take a chance, even if it’s not in the first round.
Cosmi and Ossai are each worthy of first round grades, but it appears the draft may not play out in their favor.