Prospect for the Pack: Texas OT Samuel Cosmi
The Green Bay Packers will enter the 2021 NFL draft hoping to find a few more valuable pieces to add to an otherwise talented roster after winning 26 regular-season games and making the NFC Championship Game in back-to-back seasons under coach Matt LaFleur.
Between now and the draft, Packers Wire will periodically break down one top prospect capable of landing in Green Bay later this month.
Up next is Texas offensive tackle Samuel Cosmi:
What he can do
– Elite level athlete for offensive tackle position. Easy mover at 6-5, 314. Short shuttle time under 4.4
– Allowed just six sacks on over 1,500 pass-blocking snaps over final three seasons, per Pro Football Focus
– Played both left and right tackle at Texas. First 13 starts came on the right side; final 21 on the left
– When he gets everything right in pass pro, it’s pretty. The combination of feet, hands and body positioning can eliminate rushers in a lot of different ways. And he took a ton of traditional NFL pass set reps in the Texas offense
– Not a punishing point-of-attack blocker but can handle down blocks and get to the second level and create alleyways, potentially making him a strong fit in the zone blocking scheme
– Wide zone runs are a specialty. Looks great pulling out in front of run plays or screen plays. You see the short shuttle time in action here
– Caught a touchdown pass on a throwback screen vs. West Virginia in 2019. Very smooth athlete
– Far from fully developed, both physically and technically. All the ingredients of a very good starting offensive tackle are present; needs the right coach and situation to put all the pieces together
– Durable, playing in 34 straight games
– Wasn’t highly recruited but started right away as a redshirt freshman. His ascension as a player is easy to track. Suggests strong development path entering NFL
How he fits
The Packers’ short- and long-term needs are well-established at offensive tackle. Cosmi, with experience on both sides of the line and elite-level athleticism, presents an opportunity to find both a rookie swing tackle and future starter. Ideally, Cosmi would get a chance to develop without being thrown into a starting role in Year 1, but he’s talented enough right now to play as a rookie, especially if he can get in the same room as All-Pro David Bakhtiari and rising young offensive line coach Adam Stenavich. Some assembly required, but the talent and upside are undeniable. In the right hands, Cosmi could be a star.
NFL comp
Ezra Cleveland, although recency bias is in play here. The size and athleticism comparison is hard to ignore, and it’s easy to see how many of their strengths and weaknesses align entering the NFL. Both are top athletes who need development in many areas but also fit the Shanahan zone scheme. The Vikings started Cleveland at guard as a rookie last year.
Where Packers could get him
Cosmi could be a first-round player, but projections are scattered. He is a top-20 pick for some, and a borderline top-50 pick for others. Like Cosmi, Cleveland’s stock rose rapidly during the draft process, but he still ended up as the 58th overall pick last year. Cosmi’s range of outcomes looks similar. It wouldn’t be shocking if a team in the 20s picked him, and it wouldn’t be shocking if he fell into the second round. The Packers could maneuver around the board – up or down, really – if Cosmi is the target.
