*Walt taking 2014 and 2018 |
Charlie Campbell, Senior Draft Analyst |
Teams Grade Ossai on Day 2
Updated Jan. 15, 2021By Charlie Campbell. Follow Charlie on Twitter @draftcampbell.
Texas linebacker Joseph Ossai put together a huge performance against Oklahoma State that made him a hot prospect with the media for the 2021 NFL Draft. Numerous draft experts have projected Ossai, who recorded 54 tackles, five sacks and three forced fumbles during the 2020 season, to be a first-round pick. Sources from a handful of NFL teams, however, all have Ossai graded on the second day of the 2021 NFL Draft and see some limitations to him for pro game.
“[Ossai is] undersized and lacks instincts,” said one area scout. “A lot of the big-play production came in one game.”
Ossai was listed 6-foot-4, 253 pounds, which is a size that team sources feel makes him a poor fit for a 4-3 defense. They feel he will be better off in a 3-4 defense, and that could limit his options in the early rounds of the 2021 NFL Draft.
“Ossai improved throughout the season,” said a director of college scouting. “First round is too rich for my taste though.”
Perhaps there are teams that value Ossai in the first round, and that could be more of a possibility with teams that run 3-4 schemes, but at least a few NFL teams have second-day grades on Ossai.
