2021 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Sam Cosmi





  • Sam Cosmi, 6-6/309

  • Offensive Tackle

  • Texas


  • Sam Cosmi Scouting Report
    By Charlie Campbell

    Strengths:
  • Skilled pass protector
  • Quality athlete
  • Left-tackle feet
  • Quickness
  • Gets depth in his drop to neutralize speed rushers
  • Can get the depth needed to cut off the corner
  • Good height, length and weight
  • Doesn’t have to reach for rushers
  • Improved anchor to hold his ground against bull rushes
  • Fast to the second level
  • Showed improved strength to sustain blocks
  • Agile; not stiff
  • Can move in space
  • Flashes strength
  • Flashes tenacity to finish defenders off
  • Walls off and ties up defenders in the ground game
  • Experienced




  • Weaknesses:
  • Inconsistently physical
  • Not consistent with finishing defenders
  • Not a bull dozer in the ground game
  • Struggles to knock defenders off the ball
  • Lacks heavy hands
  • Not explosive on contact


  • Summary: In the fall of 2019, team sources told WalterFootball.com they liked Cosmi and thought he was a better prospect than Connor Williams was at Texas. As a redshirt freshman that season, Cosmi earned a starting spot at right tackle for the Longhorns and put together an impressive debut. He did a good job in pass protection, showing some length and athleticism on the edge. Over the next two seasons, Cosmi turned in two quality seasons at left tackle for the Longhorns. He also showed improved strength in 2020 before ending his season early to begin preparing for the 2021 NFL Draft.

    Cosmi has a number of traits that translate into him being a dependable pass blocker on the edge. He looks natural bending at the knee and is light on his feet. With his quickness and athleticism, Cosmi can move his feet to cut off the edge from speed rushers. Cosmi can have issues with power rushes to the inside, so continuing to get stronger to anchor will be a point of improvement for him with his NFL coaching staff. He showed improved strength as a junior and has the upside to continue to get better. Team sources think Cosmi could turn into a solid starting left tackle as a pro and be a steady quarterback protector.



    As a run blocker, Cosmi is not consistent in the ground game and lacks explosion on contact. He showed improved strength in 2020 to wrestle defenders once engaged, and he will flash the desire to finish defenders off with some physicality, but he is inconsistent. Cosmi needs to get more explosive off the ball and play with more consistent physicality to become more effective on a down-by-down basis. In the NFL, he could be better off playing in a zone-blocking system than a press-man system.

    Sources from multiple teams have Cosmi graded in the second round but think he has a chance at going in the back half of the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft. If he slips to the second night of the draft, scouts think he probably will go in Round 2 and won’t slip to Day 3.



    Player Comparison: Jake Matthews. Some team sources say Cosmi reminds them of Matthews, and they think Cosmi could be a poor man’s Matthews in the NFL. Matthews has been a good left tackle for Atlanta, and some team evaluators believe Cosmi could turn a solid starter in the NFL.






    RELATED LINKS:


    2021 NFL Mock Draft: Charlie’s | Walt’s


    2021 NFL Draft Prospect Rankings


    2021 NFL Draft Scouting Reports








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