(Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty images)
Free agent frenzy is going on right now, but before you know it the 2021 NFL Draft will be upon us. Many media outlets release mock drafts weekly throughout the draft process and Brad Spielberger of Pro Football Focus is the latest to come out with a mock.
Spielberger has the Steelers drafting Texas offensive tackle Sam Cosmi at 24th overall in his mock draft. Cosmi had an incredible pro day and certainly fits a need at offensive tackle as Alejandro Villanueva will likely sign with another team in free agency. Regardless, Villanueva wasn't all that impressive last year and Cosmi would give the Steelers some fresh young talent. Cosmi could be a plug-and-play player for the Steelers in 2021.
Running a 4.84 40-yard dash at 6-foot-6, 314 pounds is certainly impressive. The former Longhorn also had 36 reps on the bench press (225 lbs). Cosmi is the complete package and would be a great fit for the Steelers if they decide to go offensive tackle in the first round.
Below is a summary on why Spielberger thinks the Steelers will select Cosmi at 24th overall.
"With Pittsburgh potentially set to lose tackle Alejandro Villanueva to free agency, Sam Cosmi would be a nice replacement for Ben Roethlisberger's final season, serving as a building block along the offensive line for whoever the quarterback's successor will be.
"Cosmi’s 90.7 pass-blocking grade in 2020 ranked third among all tackles in college football, and his 86.4 run-blocking grade is nothing to scoff at, either. He tested off the charts at Texas’ Pro Day and has the makings of a blue-chip talent at left tackle for years to come."
Cosmi played both offensive tackle positions at Texas and has a ton of experience, but The Draft Network thinks he needs some developing and coaching. The athleticism and talent is definitely there though. They also see him as more of right tackle at the next level.
"Cosmi started in 34 of 35 games at offensive tackle for the Longhorns. Experiencing 14 games at right tackle and 21 at left tackle, he’s has a wealth of experience playing on both sides of the offensive line. At 6-foot-7 and 310 pounds, he’s a lean offensive tackle that has plenty of room left on his frame to fill out. With plenty of capacity on his body structure, he has the build to pack on 10-15 more pounds of muscle. As a run blocker, he climbs to the second level with ease in order to latch and eliminate targets. On the other hand, his lack of play strength on the first level shows up at the point of attack as he isn’t a frequent people mover. Cosmi is a shield blocker that’s able to position his frame into winning alignments in order to create running lanes. In pass protection, his length gives him an advantage against defenders that are attempting to bend and turn the corner against him. Possessing above-average athleticism, he’s able to overcompensate and get away with the current technical flaws that he has. Cosmi will need seasoning as a pass protector as he needs to gain strength as well as refine his lower half. Frequently leaving his hips parallel to the sideline and the overreliance on out-athleting his opponent will be habits that need to be eliminated. Leverage is another flaw that must continue to be worked on as he has tendencies to play sky high and it results in defenders being able to get underneath of him. The former Longhorn blocker is an athletic offensive tackle that has many ingredients already present, but needs the proper coaching in order to blend them all together and possibly add more in order to reach his final state."
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