NFL Draft Roundtable: Which Longhorn will be selected first?

Although Texas had eight players choose to enter the 2021 NFL draft, it’s unclear which Longhorn will be taken off of the board first.

Brian Bahr/Getty Images

Cami Griffin: Joseph Ossai, EDGE/OLB

If you would have asked me this question a few months ago, I’d have felt confident in projecting offensive lineman Samuel Cosmi to be the first Texas player selected in the 2021 NFL draft. However, after Joseph Ossai’s impressive 2020 season combined with this Pro Day results, I believe he will sneak into the later part of the first round. This draft class helps Ossai in the sense that there isn’t a true No. 1 EDGE. On the flip side, Cosmi has several talented tackles ahead of him. Ossai played in and started all nine regular season games for Texas last year and compiled 55 tackles, 16.0 tackles for loss, five sacks, three forced fumbles, two quarterback hurries, two pass breakups and recovered one fumble. His versatility and high motor style of play will be attractive to many NFL organizations.