The University of Texas and producing NFL talent have not been best friends since Mack Brown left in 2013. Only one player, Malcolm Brown, has been selected in the first round and no players were selected in the first two rounds during the Tom Herman era.
In the 2021 draft cycle, Texas has the chance to have a guy taken within the first round. Offensive lineman Samuel Cosmi and edge rusher Joseph Ossai are going to be high on team’s draft boards. Safety Caden Sterns is considered an NFL guy as well but will be selected closer to Day Three.
ESPN’s two draft experts, Todd McShay and Mel Kiper Jr., went through an exercise (subscription-based content), each getting to fill out a roster entirely off the 2021 draft class. Only one Texas player was taken in the form of the offensive lineman, Samuel Cosmi.
Kiper took the former left tackle with the No. 36 pick, placing him at right guard, citing his versatility across the line. Oklahoma’s Creed Humphrey was selected right before Cosmi, being placed at center for McShay’s team.
How about Red River rivals back to back here? I’ll put Cosmi at right guard. He played left tackle in college, but I think he could move inside in the NFL. He has some power to his game.
Fellow Big 12 members Ronnie Perkins (Oklahoma) and Trevon Moehrig (TCU) join Cosmi on Team Kiper. Quarterback Justin Fields (Ohio State) would be relying on the former Longhorn to protect him, going up against a defensive line of Gregory Rousseau (Miami), Levi Onwuzurike (UCLA), Christian Barnmore (Alabama), and Carlos Basham Jr. (Wake Forest).
Ossai was not selected, with Rousseau and Kwity Paye (Michigan) being selected at the defensive end/outside linebacker positions. Playing jack last season for Texas, Ossai is still relatively new to passing the rusher full time.