Two Longhorns in DraftWire’s latest mock draft

In DraftWire’s latest mock draft, the five-year first-round drought is finally going to end for UT. Plus, another defensive back selected.

Texas has not produced a first-round pick since 2015, when Malcolm Brown went No. 32 overall to the New England Patriots. Since then, Connor Williams is the program’s highest draft selection where he was taken by the Dallas Cowboys in the second round.

In DraftWire’s latest mock draft, the five-year first-round drought is finally going to end for the Longhorns.

Samuel Cosmi is the best NFL prospect Texas has produced in years and it may pay off for the left tackle. DraftWire projects Cosmi to sneak into the top 20, with the Pittsburgh Steelers selecting him at No. 20 overall.

Three other offensive tackles were taken ahead of Cosmi, with all but one inside the top 15. Penei Sewell (No. 4), Walker Little (No. 15), and Alex Leatherwood (No. 18) are currently ahead of the Longhorn of Luke Easterling’s draft board.

Texas’ staff has done an excellent job developing the tackle, as the 247Sports composite only had him as a three-star prospect. In the 2017 recruiting class, he was No. 104 in the country for tackles.

According to PFF, in 1,162 career pass-blocking snaps, Cosmi has only allowed four career sacks. He and Derek Kerrsetter developed as the best tackle duo in the Big 12 last season.

Cosmi was not the only Texas player taken in the three-round mock draft. Safety Caden Sterns was taken No. 55 overall in the second round to the Philadelphia Eagles.

When Sterns is selected, it will be the fourth year in a row where the Longhorns have had a defensive back taken in the draft. DeShon Elliot, Kris Boyd, and Brandon Jones have represented Texas’ secondary in the NFL recently.

Going into his junior season, Sterns has the potential to see his draft stock rise with a solid 2020. After his fantastic freshman season, it seemed as Sterns would live up to his five-star potential and become a first-round draft pick.

If he can stay fully healthy, the safety should be flying around the field and once again be making plays like this.

Texas has had trouble turning their successful recruiting classes and developing them into NFL talent.

Tom Herman’s best-ever recruiting class came in 2018, totaling 19 blue-chip recruits, including two five-stars. It was the No. 3 overall class and ranked about schools like Alabama, Clemson, and Oklahoma.

Now, these former recruits are draft eligible for the first time and will be looking to turn professional. This will be a key year for Herman, showing he can take a top-five recruiting class and turn multiple players into Day One or early Day Two draft selections.

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